Helen Clark should make public the apology delivered in private by Damien O'Connor to the victims of Graeme Burton, says National Party Leader John Key.

"In Parliament today, Helen Clark said Mr O'Connor had apologised privately to the family of Karl Kuchenbecker," says Mr Key.

"Yet Mr O'Connor couldn't bring himself to apologise in Parliament yesterday – he found it too difficult. All he could say that he felt like 'almost apologising'

"I call on Helen Clark to make Labour's apology to the family public.

"It is the least this Labour Government can do as penance for the botch-up that surrounded Burton's parole – which was described by Corrections boss Barry Matthews as well managed.

"An innocent man is dead and others are injured thanks to this 'well managed' parole, and the country is yet to see anyone in the Labour Government take responsibility.

"This disgraceful situation contrasts with Helen Clark's statements in Opposition, when she vigorously campaigned on Government accountability.

"She said that Michael Joseph Savage and his team 'knew that the answers lay in Government taking responsibility. Nothing has changed. That is still the right answer.' "

"If she stands by those words, where is the evidence her Government is taking responsibility now? The answer is, everybody has ducked for cover."