Richard Worth

Wellington, June 3 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key has previously looked into an allegation around minister Richard Worth's behaviour toward women, he revealed this afternoon.

Dr Worth resigned as a minister yesterday.

Police confirmed this morning an MP was being investigated , saying the inquiry would be headed by a top Wellington cop -- but did not say what it was into.

The complaint was made in Auckland two weeks ago about an incident. Preliminary inquiries were done, then the case was transferred to Wellington City CIB head Inspector Paul Basham.

Pressure is building on either the Government or police to reveal the nature of the allegation.

Mr Key this afternoon said a previous allegation about Dr Worth's alleged inappropriate behaviour towards women had been made.

"I've investigated those and been satisfied with the answers I received," he said.

"I've had someone bring an allegation to me, of that nature, and all I can say is I treated that allegation seriously, I investigated it and I was satisfied with the answers I received."

Asked if the new allegation was of a similar nature to the one he looked into, Mr Key said yes, but the circumstances were different.

Mr Key would not say what the new circumstances were.

"All I can tell you is his conduct does not befit a minister and I will not have him in my Cabinet," Mr Key said earlier.

"If he hadn't resigned I would have sacked him."

Dr Worth, who remains an MP, said in his brief statement he was resigning for personal reasons and he would not be making further comment.

Mr Key said it was up to Dr Worth to comment on the allegations.

"All I can say is that he's subject to a police investigation and in the end he's entitled to a fair investigation."

Labour leader Phil Goff said that was not good enough.

"I think the nature of the allegation should be made public," he told reporters.

"A high public office that the minister holds, or held, is sufficient to justify an explanation being given to the public.

"When you are in public office you can't hide behind secrecy and non-disclosure of reasons for you resignation."

Mr Key was told of the allegation late last Tuesday afternoon.

In Parliament today, Mr Goff asked why he had taken a week to act.

Mr Key said his office sought information before he moved.

"There was a process to work through and information to reach...I am a fair person and I believe in natural justice."

He refused to answer questions in Parliament about the nature of the allegations, saying he did not want to taint the police investigation.

"I don't think it would be appropriate for me to contaminate that investigation by making loose comments."

The allegation about a "relatively recent" incident was bought to Mr Key's attention by an outside party. Dr Worth had not come to him about it.

Dr Worth has been given a two-week leave of absence from Parliament: "because I think he needs some time to reflect on his future and whether he intends to stay as an MP".

Mr Key said it was up to Dr Worth to decide whether to leave Parliament, but if police laid charges he may be suspended or expelled from Caucus.

"It may be in the fullness of time he is not appropriate to be a member of Parliament. But that is not something I can adjudicate on at this time."

Dr Worth has been at the centre of a number of judgement lapses that have shunted him into the media limelight.

He was reprimanded by Mr Key in April over a potential conflict of interest on a trip to India. He made other gaffes but none were serious.

Mr Key said the resignation had nothing to do with those.

"The decision that has been reached today has been reached on the back of this incident and nothing else."

Dr Worth was a minister outside cabinet holding the portfolios of internal affairs and land information. He was also an associate minister of justice.

Dr Worth's ministerial responsibilities had been temporarily transferred to Maurice Williamson.

Mr Key said he would permanently reallocate them in "the near future".

He was the first minister to resign in the new Government, elected last November.