5. Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
What did she mean by her comments yesterday “There can be no money sought, [or] offered, for giving a service to a member of the public”?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister) Link to this
No money should be paid by anyone for work done by MPs for that person. Cash should not be paid for policy, either. That is why Labour will support changes to electoral law to flush out National’s covert funding.
When the Prime Minister made her comment yesterday, was she taking into account the provisions of the United Kingdom House of Commons Code of Conduct for Members of Parliamen t, which states: “Holders of public office should take decisions solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends.”—incidentally, that builds on a principle first established in the House of Commons in May 1695—and do her comments now mean she considers that the time has come for something akin to that code of conduct to be applied in New Zealand to make clear what reasonable public expectations there are of the behaviour of members of Parliament in these types of situations?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I agree with the contents of the code of conduct as read by Mr Dunne just now. Further, I understand that a code of conduct proposal is before the Standing Orders Committee and I support its members giving it their full consideration.
Hone HarawiraHas she read the statement from the Māori Party issued at 1 p.m. today that stipulates that any cash donation given to a member of Parliament will be processed through the party mechanisms, and does she believe that this is a policy that could be applied to all members of Parliament?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
Of course donations should be processed through parties, but I repeat that no money should be given for any service rendered by a member of Parliament. The National Party should not accept “cash for policy” either.
Gerry BrownleeI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Can we assume that the 1999 union campaign to change the Government was repaid by the Labour Party in its Employment Relations Act policy that had special union education provisions for those members? If that was not “cash for policy”, who knows what was?
Madam SPEAKER
Hon Dr Michael Cullen Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. The matter the member raised could be dealt with quite simply if the National Party showed the list of who actually gave them the money instead of the anonymous organisation covering 90 percent of it.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Mr Brownlee made an unparliamentary comment about members of the Government and I ask that it be withdrawn.
I did not hear what the comment was but if the member did, would Mr Brownlee please withdraw and apologise.
I said that the Government was corrupt. It has been said inside and outside this House for weeks and I am not withdrawing it.
Hon Dr Michael Cullen Link to this
Offence has been taken, in the same way I am sure that if Labour stated—as I think we did previously—that Dr Brash lied in saying he did not know about the Exclusive Brethren, we would be required to withdraw and apologise; Mr Mallard was previously this afternoon.
Sandra GoudieYes, the Speaker has ruled that, Ms Goudie. She has also ruled, in fact, that when those cannot be heard, they should be heard—[ Interruption] I am on my feet and speaking. Would the member please leave the House.
Is the Prime Minister concerned that a principle that has been established for some 400 years—about not accepting cash in return for services offered as a member of Parliament—may not be accepted by all members of this House; if so, what steps does she think ought to be taken to deal with that?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
It would be an appalling thing if that principle were not accepted, and that indeed is what would lead Parliament to adopt a code of conduct, which I would like to see covering National’s “cash for policies”, as well.