Greens back call to share out top jobs

By FRANCESCA MOLD political reporter

The Green Party is backing a call from Act to allow all political parties a say in which MPs are selected as Parliament's new Speaker and to chair select committees.

Act deputy leader Ken Shirley wrote to each of the party leaders yesterday, asking for their support in changing the way the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and committee heads are selected.

He said that traditionally the party with the biggest vote controlled who was appointed to the positions even though the rules stated select committees should elect their own heads. .

But Mr Shirley believed that under MMP there should be multi-party participation in the key roles.

"If the Government does not accept this suggestion, then it is my observation that collectively the non-Government parties have sufficient numbers to hold them to account and insist on a non-partisan approach."

Green co-leader Rod Donald said Mr Shirley's suggestion reflected the position his party had held for a long time. The Greens had raised the issue in a submission to the Standing Orders committee in 2000.

Mr Donald said his party believed the distribution of the heads of select committees should, as far as practicable, be proportionate to the parties in Parliament.

He said that in the past Act had been dismissive of the Green Party's attempt to do exactly what Mr Shirley was now suggesting.

"We're very pleased they have come round to our position on this issue."

He said the Greens would be happy to discuss a multi-party agreement to ensure the top jobs were shared across the parties.

The shadow leader of the House, Gerry Brownlee, said the National Party would think seriously about Mr Shirley's suggestion.

He said if a formal coalition agreement could not be struck with either the Greens or United Future, the Labour Party and Progressive Coalition would have to operate as a minority Government. They would need support from the rest of Parliament to achieve anything. And in return, the Opposition parties would expect to have a fair slice of the "engine room" of Parliament.

Mr Brownlee said it was reasonable for the Government to nominate the Speaker and it would be sensible for the Deputy Speaker to be nominated by the combined Opposition.

He believed the Government would be open to the suggestion.

Prime Minister Helen Clark yesterday declined to comment on Mr Shirley's proposal.

But in 1996, when a row erupted over the formation of select committees, Labour argued that under MMP the chairmanships should be shared out.

At the time, Labour deputy leader Michael Cullen said people who had voted for MMP expected a sharing of power and he accused the then National Government of acting arrogantly. He said Labour was prepared to share power in a "reasonable fashion".

Mr Shirley yesterday suggested National MP Clem Simich would be a good Speaker. He was also careful not to rule out supporting the current Speaker, Jonathan Hunt.

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