Breach alleged

Press, 22 July 1976, Page 1

Breach alleged

Parliamentary reporter

A charge that the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling), committed a major breach of Parliamentary privilege earlier in the night, was made in Parliament about 10.30 p.m. yesterday by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon).

Mr Muldoon said that the Egyptian Charge d’ Affaires had spoken to the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament in the morning, concerning aspects of the Olympic withdrawals and possible consequences of the appearance of the All Black team in South Africa.

Before be spoke he had asked whether he could be assured of "omplete confidentiality. He was told that the proceedings were completely confidential, Mr Muldoon said.

Earlier in the evening, however, Mr Rowling had appeared on a television

programme, and had given substantially what the diplomat had told the committee. Mr Muldoon described this as a gross breach of Parliamentary privilege.

Mr Rowling said that he had not been at the committee. As part leader, however, he had the right to be informed by members of his party what was said.

He added that the Charge d’Affaires had disclosed substantially the same information in an earlier interview.

The Government voted down, 43-24, Opposition resistance to the matter’s being referred to the Privileges Committee after the Speaker (Sir Roy Jack) ruled a prima facie case of breach of privilege had been established against Mr Rowling.