TANCZOS IN HOT SEAT OVER 'DRUNK IN CHARGE' QUIP

Green MP Nandor Tanczos has refused to name the MPs he referred to as
being "drunk in charge of the country" after an outcry from MPs angry
that they were implicated.

Mr Tanczos said on Wednesday: "In my short time in this House, I've seen
people in this House drunk - drunk in charge of a country."

Yesterday, the dreadlocked campaigner for decriminalisation of
cannabis backed away from his statements when pinned down by ACT MP
Rodney Hide.

To Green co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons' consternation, Mr Hide asked
her youngest new MP to reveal the politicians' identities to "remove
the slur on all members".

Mr Tanczos later said he had used "rather colourful language" to
describe the behaviour of some MPs he saw on the night of the press
gallery Christmas party.

Mr Tanczos told The Press he had aimed to illustrate the fact that
alcohol was frequently consumed when Parliament was in session, and
yet MPs still blocked decriminalisation of cannabis.

"The degree of tolerance our society shows is inconsistent with the
approach it takes to cannabis."

He said he was talking about only one MP.

He did not want to expose that person in case he caused "distress to
them or their family for being publicly named for behaviour which may
not even be characteristic of them".