The S-Files

A Small But Significant Accomplishment

Contra Celsum has decided to bestow an S-Award on Dr Lockwood Smith, the new Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament.

Background:

In New Zealand, our constitutional fabric is thin and therefore vulnerable. Much of it depends upon the commitment of all political parties and participants to "play fair" within the spirit of the unwritten rules of historical practice, as much as their explicit content. Consequently, constitutional conventions have little sanction or protection if a dominant government chooses to ignore them.

The former Labour administration rent asunder constitutional conventions with breathtaking arrogance. In the end, the electorate had had enough. One of those disgusting and dangerous actions was the politicisation of parliamentary question time. Under the reign of the former Labour speaker, Margaret Wilson question time descended into a political farce. Ministers were allowed to ignore questions at will.

The dignity and place of parliament had denigrated to the point where a minister could completely ignore a formal question, speak about something entirely different, or use it in an attempt to disparage political opponents. All the minister had to do is "address" the question, which under Wilson's regimen was twisted to mean something completely vague. Wilson would allow the following kind of gross non sequitur as acceptable and within the rules:

Q: Will the Minister please tell us how many prisoners have died in Police or Corrections custody in the last year?

A: With respect to that question, we confirm that the moon is not made of green cheese.

Wilson ruled repeatedly that answers of such inane ilk were within the rules because they "addressed" (that is, mentioned) the question.

Under Wilson's regime, the principle that government is accountable to parliament was seriously undermined. The new speaker is seeking to repair the gaping rent torn in our constitution by the previous speaker.

Citation:

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Lockwood Smith yesterday insisted that government ministers answer questions. He has ruled that where questions are submitted in advance, so that time has been provided to research factually correct answers, ministers must answer the question, providing the relevant data and material.

This ruling reflects the historical and conventional interpretation of parliamentary rules which requires that ministers "address" the question. Thus, a small piece of constitutional fabric was restored yesterday. The benefits to the body politic will be both immediate and long term.

Firstly, the government will be required to operate with more respect towards the parliament and parliamentary institutions. The deliberately vaunted power of the executive, so evident under the previous government, has been diminished accordingly.

Secondly, the government's accountability to parliament--and therefore to the people--has been significantly restored. This serves to underscore the democratic nature and foundations of our system of government.

Thirdly, the quality of political discourse might improve substantially as a result. Political debate and discussion might escape the truly awful pattern of relentless ad hominem attacks--which does more than any other factor to erode public respect for politicians and leaders.

Fourthly, with increased broadcasting of parliament's sessions question time might now be influential in raising the wider public's understanding of government and the processes and workings of our democracy. Previously, most listening to or looking at question time either ended up being disgusted or frustrated or both.

These are not insignificant steps forward.

Dr Lockwood Smith, Speaker of the House of Representatives: S-Award Class I for actions in the course of public duty that are Smart, Sound and Salutary.