Govt acts for M.P.s to show assets

Press, 7 February 1986, Page 3

Govt acts for M.P.s to show assets

PA Wellington The Government has moved towards implementing a controversial election promise to require all members of Parliament to declare publicly assets, gifts, and sources of income.

In a paper sent this week to all members, the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Geoffrey Palmer, has recommended that Parliament rule that members declare their assets within 28 days after each election.

A register of members’ interests would be updated each year and made public after being presented to Parliament.

Deliberate non-compli-ance with the declaration requirements would mean that a member could be referred to Parliament’s Privileges Committee for disciplinary action. In his paper, Mr Palmer appears to favour a system like that which Britain’s House of Commons introduced 10 years ago.

British members of Parliament must make declarations about nine areas. They include company directorship, income from any employment outside Parliament, land or property from which “a substantial income” is gained, and any payments from foreign Governments.

They also have to declare publicly the source of individual election campaign expenses if any single donation is more than 25 per cent of the total cost.

This is likely to be the most controversial requirement if the Government decides that such campaign donations should be made public in New Zealand.

Many Opposition members of Parliament are against the introduction of a register and several Government members also have misgivings. The House of Commons

— the first Commonwealth Parliament to introduce such a register - ran into problems when the requirement came into force in 1975. A Conservative member, Mr Enoch Powell, refused to co-operate with the register, arguing that it was unlawful and unconstitutional for Parliament to create additional conditions before a person elected to Parliament could take his seat.

Though it had the power, the House of Commons took no action against Mr Powell and this led to no new register appearing for five years. Australia is also close to setting up a register. The Federal Parliament has agreed in principle to establish one, but has not agreed on the form it will take.

In his paper, Mr Palmer recommends that Parliament’s Standing Orders Committee decide the classes of interests that should be registered. He says that the Speaker should not be required to decide the guilt of a member of Parliament who does not comply with the register.