Ministry Found in Contempt of Parliament, Faces Being Told Off

Officials from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment have been found in contempt of Parliament, after failing to give truthful and complete answers to a select committee. Clerk David Wilson explains the principle at stake plainly enough: “Parliament is entitled to receive truthful answers to its questions.” Officials are expected to answer honestly during Estimates and Annual Review hearings whether or not the answer is embarrassing for the department, which is precisely the situation this one was designed to avoid.

The process for dealing with this is suitably solemn. A member raises the matter with the Speaker, who decides whether it warrants investigation, and if so refers it to the Privileges Committee, chaired by the Attorney-General, for what Wilson calls a quasi-judicial hearing. The Committee reports back, and Parliament debates and votes on it. All of this exists to protect the idea that officials must tell the truth to the people scrutinising them on the country’s behalf.

And then comes the punishment. Wilson lists the options for a non-MP found in contempt: “telling the person off, reprimanding them, maybe having them apologise.” Fines up to $1,000 are technically available and have been used exactly once, against TVNZ in 2006. Parliament’s ultimate sanction for lying to it, in other words, is a talking-to. The privilege stands. The consequences do not.