Labour cites ACC minister

The Labour Party has lodged a privileges complaint against the ACC Minister.

Senior whip Darren Hughes said Nick Smith misled the House - which is against Parliament's rules - in Parliament last Thursday.

Dr Smith told the House he appeared on a select committee last week, as the new ACC board chairman John Judge was unavailable.

But Mr Hughes said the Labour Department on Wednesday told Dr Smith he had not correctly sacked outgoing board chairman Ross Wilson.

That meant Mr Wilson was still legally the chairman and Mr Judge was not appointed.

"During question time on Thursday, Dr Smith referred to Mr Judge as being the chair, referred to Mr Wilson's dismissal, and said Mr Judge could not attend because he had other business that day, when in fact Mr Judge could not attend ... because he was not the legal chair of ACC," Mr Hughes said.

Dr Smith outraged Labour MPs by speaking up at the select committee.

- NZPA