Register invasion of privacy—Mr McLay

Press, 20 February 1986, Page 19

Register invasion of privacy—Mr McLay

PA Wellington Members of Parliament who are lawyers could face ethical problems if the Government proceeded with plans to set up a register of financial interests, said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr McLay. He said as the proposal now stood, members of Parliament could be required to disclose names of their clients. This would involve a breach of a lawyer’s professional obligation. Most Opposition members of Parliament saw the idea as an invasion of privacy, he said. The Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Palmer, sent a paper to all members of parliament recommending a Parliamentary ruling that members declare their assets within 28 days after each election.

A register of ; members’

interests would be updated. Deliberate noncompliance would mean members could face disciplinary action. Such a register was introduced in the British House of Commons 10 years ago.

Mr McLay said the National Party caucus would develop a formal policy position on the issue in time. “At this stage, it is inappropriate to do so because the precise nature and form of the Government proposal is not yet revealed,” he said. Mr McLay asked why it was necessary. “In the history of New Zealand politics, I am not aware of any suggestion at any item that an M.P., as distinct from a Cabinet Minister, has acted in a way contrary to the public Interest or in accordance with his own personal or

pecuniary interests,” Mr McLay said. He said rules already existed covering the required conduct from Cabinet Ministers on the issue. A select committee chaired in 1956 by the then Hawke’s Bay member of parliament, Mr Cyril Harker, established guidelines for Cabinet Ministers. Mr McLay said that at present there was probably more individual wealth on the Government side of the House. “But at the end of the day, I’m not in the slightest bit interested in what a Labour M.P. owns,” he said. “Individual M.P.s, by and large, do not make decisions that could affect their pecuniary interests,” Mr McLay said. Such decisions were mare by Cabinet Ministers, he said.