Opposition ‘blocks’ register

Press, 15 July 1987, Page 10

Opposition ‘blocks’ register

PA Wellington The issue of a register for of the pecuniary interests of members of Parliament should be addressed during the next Parliament’s term, said the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Palmer. In a speech emphasising increased accountability he said that the framework for the Government’s policy of open government which was detailed in its 1984 policy document already existed.

But he said that the outstanding issue regard-

ing proposals for a register of M.P.S’ pecuniary interests, which was to be among changes to Parliament’s Standing Orders, had been blocked by the Opposition. “Our only failure has been as a result of fervent opposition from members of the National Party,” he told a public meeting in Wadestown, Wellington. “Only recently members of the Opposition have attempted to embarrass members of the Government by exposing their business dealings.”

If the register had existed there would have been no need to resort to such “underhand” tactics, Mr Palmer said.

Apart from that he believed the Government’s accountability had been "dramatically increased,” particularly with select committees being reorganised so they could now launch their own investigations.

Parliament itself had also undergone major reform with urgency no longer meaning all-night sittings.