Dunne Peter: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Dunne Peter: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:633;Page:5114] 
5.  
Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: What did she mean by her comments yesterday “There can be no money sought [or] offered for giving a service to a member of the public”? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister) 
: 
 No money should be paid by anyone for work done by MPs for that person. Cash should not be paid for policy either. That is why Labour will support changes to electoral law to flush out National’s covert funding. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: When the Prime Minister made her comment yesterday was she taking into account the provisions of the United Kingdom House of Commons  
Code of Conduct for Members of Parliamen 
t which states: “Holders of public office should take decisions solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves their family or their friends.”—incidentally that builds on a principle first established in the House of Commons in May 1695—and do her comments now mean she considers that the time has come for something akin to that code of conduct to be applied in New Zealand to make clear what reasonable public expectations there are of the behaviour of members of Parliament in these types of situations? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I agree with the contents of the code of conduct as read by Mr Dunne just now. Further I understand that a code of conduct proposal is before the Standing Orders Committee and I support its members giving it their full consideration. 
Hone Harawira 
: Has she read the statement from the Maori Party issued at 1 p.m. today that stipulates that any cash donation given to a member of Parliament will be processed through the party mechanisms and does she believe that this is a policy that could be applied to all members of Parliament? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: Of course donations should be processed through parties but I repeat that no money should be given for any service rendered by a member of Parliament. The National Party should not accept “cash for policy” either. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. Can we assume that the 1999 union campaign to change the Government was repaid by the Labour Party in its Employment Relations Act policy that had special union education provisions for those members? If that was not “cash for policy” who knows what was? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: That is not a point of order. 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. The matter the member raised could be dealt with quite simply if the National Party showed the list of who actually gave them the money instead of the anonymous organisation covering 90 percent of it. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. Mr Brownlee made an unparliamentary comment about members of the Government and I ask that it be withdrawn. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I did not hear what the comment was but if the member did would Mr Brownlee please withdraw and apologise. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I said that the Government was corrupt. It has been said inside and outside this House for weeks and I am not withdrawing it. 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: Offence has been taken in the same way I am sure that if Labour stated—as I think we did previously—that Dr Brash lied in saying he did not know about the Exclusive Brethren we would be required to withdraw and apologise; Mr Mallard was previously this afternoon. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Previously objection has not been taken. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I understand the member’s sensitivities and I— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Just withdraw and apologise thank you very much. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I withdraw and apologise. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: Is the Prime Minister—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Members please do Mr Dunne the courtesy of allowing him to put his question so we can all hear it. 
Sandra Goudie 
: The Speaker has ruled that interjections are allowed during question time. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Yes the Speaker has ruled that Ms Goudie. She has also ruled in fact that when those cannot be heard they should be heard—[ 
Interruption 
] I am on my feet and speaking. Would the member please leave the House. 
Sandra Goudie withdrew from the Chamber. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: Is the Prime Minister concerned that a principle that has been established for some 400 years—about not accepting cash in return for services offered as a member of Parliament—may not be accepted by all members of this House; if so what steps does she think ought to be taken to deal with that? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: It would be an appalling thing if that principle were not accepted and that indeed is what would lead Parliament to adopt a code of conduct which I would like to see covering National’s “cash for policies” as well. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: I seek leave to table the United Kingdom  
Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament 
 prepared pursuant to a resolution of the House of Commons on 19 July 1995. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.