I'm not convinced the National Party was planning to confess that Michelle Boag had sent private data to, not only Hamish Walker, but Michael Woodhouse as well.

Their behaviour around this, in my opinion, suggests they might've tried to hide this.

It is very suspicious that Michael Woodhouse held onto those emails for up to two weeks and then only deleted them on Monday, the day the government announced an inquiry into the privacy breach.

It’s also very suspicious when you listen to the answers that Todd Muller gave during a press conference yesterday.

He was asked very specific questions about whether Boag sent information to Woodhouse.  He knew that she had, because Woodhouse had told him on Tuesday, two days earlier.

Reporter: Was Michelle Boag a source for Michael Woodhouse? Have you spoken to him?

Muller: Ah no I look again I don’t really understand where you’re going with this.

Now take out the distracting bit at the end, and the answer you're left with is 'ah no'.  But, the truth is yes. Was Boag a source for Woodhouse? Yes. Had Muller spoken to him? Yes.

Reporter: Have you checked with Woodhouse specifically whether he received that same information from Boag?

Muller: Ah no.

• National leader knew Michael Woodhouse was also sent Covid patient data

Now technically, he’s right.  He hadn't checked with Woodhouse. Woodhouse came to him. But it’s on the line isn’t it? 

In my opinion Todd Muller was not honest yesterday. And that leads me to form the opinion that he and National may have intended to keep this from us.

When this Hamish Walker story first broke, I wouldn't have believed that this could’ve got worse, but it has

And again, like every other time the Nats have dealt with a crisis since the leadership change, it has been made worse by the way Muller handles it.

He’s tried to tell us dirty politics has no place in the National Party he runs.

Well, what is a lack of honesty if not dirty politics?