National to block Greens' Field motion and propose own

Taito Phillip Field

National has said it will continue to block the Greens' motion censuring Taito Phillip Field and will instead introduce a motion of its own expressing concern at his behaviour and calling for an enquiry.

A nine-month investigation into the Labour MP's business dealings with constituents and Asians seeking immigration permits cleared him of conflict of interest as a minister, but raised questions about his judgment as an MP.

The Green Party says MPs have sunk in the public's esteem because of the controversy and the party is backing United Future's call for a parliamentary code of conduct.

Earlier this week Greens tried to introduce a motion censuring Mr Field but National blocked it after the Greens refused to back its calls for a select committee inquiry into the affair.

National's deputy leader, Gerry Brownlee, today said if the Greens were serious about restoring the integrity of Parliament, they would support National's motion.

National's motion reads: "That this House expresses its deep concern at the allegations left unresolved against Taito Phillip Field in the report of Noel Ingram QC, notes that the reputation of the whole Parliament, and each of its members, will suffer serious damage until such allegations are properly resolved, and therefore refers the Ingram report to the privileges committee, with the direction that it should make such enquiry as necessary to provide this House with a final resolution of the matter."

Calling for a code of standards, United Future leader Peter Dunne said: "The lesson we need to learn from the whole set of unsavoury circumstances surrounding the Field case is we've got to get our own house in order."

The Greens said the code should also include MPs behaviour in the House.

"Parliament has sunk to a new low in the public's esteem, and many New Zealanders are embarrassed and horrified by some of the behaviour, both inside and outside the House," Green MP Sue Kedgley said.

"All MP's have a stake in trying to stem the rot, and improve behaviour," she said.

"The latest episode in the House with Ron Mark giving the finger to a fellow MP has marked a new low in Parliamentary behaviour."

Mr Dunne said a code should be overseen by a special committee of long-serving MPs who would judge issues such as the allegations against Mr Field's relationship with immigrants who worked on his houses.

But Ms Kedgley said that smacked "of an Old Boys network"."Besides, some of the longest-serving members of Parliament can be some of the most badly behaved in the House," she added.

Mr Dunne said today the Field controversy showed the rules around MPs' conduct were either lacking or inadequate.

"It's precisely the sort of thing that is being addressed in Britain and Canada and we're no different and we've got to come up to speed," he said on National Radio.

In Britain, the House of Commons introduced a code of conduct in 1996 and established a Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

That was in response to the cash for questions scandal, when an MP was found to have been paid to ask certain questions in the House.

Mr Dunne said it was up to parliamentarians to take control of the situation in New Zealand.

"We have to make sure our processes and our expectations of our colleagues are sufficiently strong and clear so that we don't have people who think you can effectively run a little business on the side, charging or getting people to do favours for you in return for your advocacy," he said.

National MP Nick Smith said the Field case could have been properly dealt with if Prime Minister Helen Clark had agreed to set up a Commission of Inquiry.

"The rules aren't at fault," he said.

- NZPA