John Key MP
National Party Leader

6 July 2007

National to propose change to satire ban

A new rule that bans use of images from the parliamentary debating chamber for satire should be revisited, and National will raise the issue with the relevant parliamentary committee, says National Party Leader John Key.

"National has noted the obviously genuine concerns held by the public and the media about the ban. There must be a way forward, and we want to explore that.

"Parliament's debates do occur in the public eye, and we have supported opening up the broadcasting of proceedings.

"We are not so precious as MPs that we can't accept that from time-to-time we will be subject to some form of satire.

"Democracy is best served by being open.

"I invite media representatives to help come up with solutions to this issue. Gerry Brownlee has already invited the Commonwealth Press Union to do just that.

"National intends at the earliest opportunity to attempt to get this issue put back on the agenda of Parliament's standing orders committee. That would be a responsible, common-sense approach.

"Our MPs on the committee were of the view that the new rules would open up broadcasting of Parliament. Indeed, the changes to broadcasting of Parliament mean that all parliamentary business - not just question time - will now be broadcast.

"But we are not deaf to the concerns held by the public and media about aspects of the new rules."

ENDS

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