Relax the rules, don't tighten them Clerk tells MPs

Clerk of the House Mary Harris says Parliament should relax some rules that protect MPs. Photo / Getty Images

Clerk of the House Mary Harris has not only advised MPs against introducing special rules to police social media, but suggests Parliament should relax some rules that protect MPs such as the ban on the use of debating chamber footage for satire.

She was speaking to the privileges committee today which is looking at the use of social media to report on parliamentary proceedings.

Its use has included MPs using Twitter to condemn rulings by the Speaker, or political opponents, and taking selfies or videos in the chamber.

Mary Harris said in her submission that the opportunities that social media offered for MPs to interact with New Zealanders and for Parliament to present a positive image to the country "far outweigh the problems that they present."

"Restriction or regulation should be avoided," she said.

She said MPs should be reminded, however, that just because they commented via social media from the House, or from a select committee, their comments did not carry parliamentary privilege.

They were in the same position as if they were making a statement outside the House.

On the issue of MPs taking pictures or filming in the House, Mary Harris suggested that there be no restrictions be imposed on MPs and that the restrictions on the media about what it can film in the chamber be removed so the same rules apply to both.

The restriction against filming disruptions in the public gallery would remain.

But she the rule requiring camera coverage to revert to the Speaker in the case of general disorder on the floor was out-of-step.

"If members are disorderly, they should be seen to be so by the public."

She also said the prohibition on the use of official television coverage for satire, ridicule or denigration should be reconsidered.

She said it was difficult to police, attempts to take action on the rule would probably be seen as a badge of honour by them, satire was not necessarily offensive and the law always offered protection for individual when it was.