Radio New Zealand/NZ News Wire
Christchurch, Friday, May 27, 2016
The Union representing public servants has said that the lengthy jail term handed down to the man who shot dead two Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) staff comes as a relief.
Russell John Tully was jailed today for at least 27 years for the September 2014 shooting spree in Ashburton.
WINZ employees Susan Leigh Cleveland and Peggy Turuhira Noble were killed in the attack and a third woman was badly injured.
“Our members will be relieved at the news Tully’s vicious and evil crime has been suitably punished,” PSA National Secretary Glenn Barclay said.
“The WINZ office at Ashburton was a tight-knit workplace and the impact of these tragic deaths has been profound – for the families of the victims, their community and the whole country,” he added.
Mr Barclay said that the sentence should send a message that workers had the right to do their job in safety.
Painful memories
The government agency which employed the victims said there had been much pain for their families and staff since the incident.
“I hope today’s sentencing provides some closure for Peg’s and Leigh’s families and loved ones. Our staff have endured much and today’s sentencing will help them as they continue to move on, but never forgetting their lost colleagues and friends,” Mr Barclay said.
Social Development Minister Anne Tolley said WINZ staff deserved to be safe at work.
“Violence, threats of violence and abuse towards our staff is totally unacceptable. Work and Income has taken a zero tolerance approach to any kind of threatening behaviour both in offices and in phone conversation,” she said.
Ms Tolley said that the agency had improved security at its offices and now employed more than double the number of security guards it did before the shootings.
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Photo Caption:
Russell John Tully
