Donald Rod: Standing Orders 
Donald Rod: Standing Orders 
[Volume:627;Page:22360] 
ROD DONALD (Co-Leader—Green) 
: 
 I am delighted to say that the Green MPs give their wholehearted support to Supplementary Order Paper 381 because notwithstanding what Mr Brown has just said the adoption of a procedure for members of the New Zealand Parliament to declare their pecuniary interests is long overdue. Ministers have had to declare their interests since 1991. They have been making an annual declaration. I do not think it has been altogether too arduous for them and clearly it is not just Labour Ministers who have made such a declaration; National Ministers have as well. Perhaps even Winston Peters was in Cabinet long enough to have had to make a declaration—I am not sure. 
But the point I want to make is that this is a very important step forward for our Parliament and it is one that we should make because organisations like Transparency International assess all the Parliaments in the world to determine whether Parliaments and the members of those Parliaments are corrupt and I am pleased to see that New Zealand was rated the third least corrupt Parliament in the world. I am sure the fact that our Ministers—the people who are most likely to get some benefit from outside organisations providing them with air tickets meals or other gratuities—have had to declare those interests has given New Zealand the degree of transparency and accountability that it has and such a good rating from Transparency International. By extending those provisions to all members of Parliament I hope we will become No. 1 in the world according to Transparency International—the least-corrupt Parliament anywhere on this planet. 
But we have to kick off the new system before that can take place. I have to note as I did in my first reading speech when this matter was still a bill rather than an amendment to the Standing Orders that we are well behind our colleagues across the ditch in Australia. The state of Victoria has had legislation since 1978 South Australia since 1983 and the Senate since 1984. 
Peter Brown 
: What’s that achieved? 
ROD DONALD 
: What is more I tell Mr Brown given his ancestry the mother of all Parliaments Westminster—the House of Commons—has had pecuniary interest legislation since 1974. Maybe that is why he left and came out here—I am not sure. 
Ian Ewen-Street 
: Go back. 
ROD DONALD 
: No I am not suggesting he goes back. That is what Mr Peters suggests that immigrants do. Mr Brown is very welcome to stay in New Zealand when the Greens become part of the next Government. 
The new Standing Orders contained in the Supplementary Order Paper represent the politics of transparency and accountability. They are not as Mr Brown claimed in his first reading speech the politics of envy. It is extraordinary in fact for the deputy leader of New Zealand First strongly to oppose MPs being required to be upfront with the public about the financial interests that they may have so that the public can judge their subsequent behaviour in Parliament accordingly when Mr Brown’s own leader is forever making false accusations about impropriety in the public service in the business community and amongst ethnic organisations. So far from being nosy parker Standing Orders and far from my being a prima donna on this issue these are very common-sense amendments to the Standing Orders. The public of New Zealand expects us to meet high standards. We are after all public servants. We are the elected representatives of the people of New Zealand. We have a responsibility to set an example. Instead of New Zealand First accusing other people of not being honest it is time that it practised what it preached. 
The other party to oppose MPs disclosing their financial interests has been ACT. Mr Prebble’s speech during the first reading was breathtaking. It was fire and brimstone despite of course his new leader Rodney Hide having branded ACT as the perk-busting party. Of course these Standing Orders are all about ensuring that MPs do not take perks. We have to acknowledge that Mr Prebble certainly will not be taking any perks in the future from Parliament because he is about to retire. I suspect that Mr Hide will be gone too so he will not have to make a declaration after the election either. 
Notwithstanding however the opposition from ACT and New Zealand First to the Supplementary Order Paper before us I join with Mr Power in acknowledging that the select committee process was constructive. Although it took us some time to work through the current Standing Orders as a result of that due deliberation they are robust they will stand the test of time and they will I hope meet with the public’s approval and I would also hope the media’s approval. The absence of the media in the gallery suggests that they are very relaxed about the steps we are taking in this regard. 
In closing I look forward to declaring my pecuniary interests when I return to Parliament with an even larger Green team after the election.