Clark defends televised House as direct democracy in action

In-house televising of Parliament was "direct democracy" in action and not censorship, Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday.

The Cabinet last week approved spending $6.2 million to set up in-house television coverage of Parliament but television networks - which will get access to the footage - say they should be able to film independently.

At a post-Cabinet press conference yesterday, Helen Clark said that the first Labour Government had made radio broadcasts of Parliament possible and Parliament was now catching up to "the television age".

She believed televising Parliament was an example of "direct democracy" where "people can actually see what their representatives are doing".

It might lead to improved standards of behaviour, she said.

Speaker Margaret Wilson last week said television coverage of Parliament would firstly be free-to-air broadcasts of the debating chamber but would later include hearings of select committees that were open to the public.

Television networks will be allowed access to the footage but say they should be allowed to continue to film independently.

Newspapers have also expressed concern about MPs' plans to take control of televising Parliament.

Commonwealth Press Union chairman Tim Pankhurst said the proposal was an attempt by politicians to ensure control over their media image.

- NZPA