MPs review privilege rule after Ian Fraser case

TVNZ could have escaped punishment for its treatment of former chief executive Ian Fraser if it had acted more reasonably, MPs were told yesterday.

The privileges select committee, which fined TVNZ $1000 after the broadcaster punished Mr Fraser for his comments to a parliamentary inquiry, was meeting to consider related issues.

It is a contempt of Parliament to prosecute or "disadvantage" people giving evidence to select committees and the privileges panel has asked for evidence on whether that rule needs amendment.

Clerk of the House David McGee told the committee that the rule was not an absolute protection and it should be amended to reflect that.

If a person had been making extravagant or unjustifiable claims he could not expect to be defended by MPs, he said.

On the other hand the actions of the person seeking to punish someone claiming Parliament's protection could also be justifiable or understandable.

A public servant who openly attacked a minister could probably be justifiably moved to a different position.

If TVNZ had taken a more judicious approach to disciplining Mr Fraser, MPs might have not chosen to punish the broadcaster.

- NZPA