Gerry Brownlee MP
National Party Shadow Leader of the House

20 March 2008

National will ask Speaker to revisit media ban

National’s Shadow Leader of the House Gerry Brownlee says the National Party has had absolutely nothing to do with a new media ban imposed by retiring Labour MP and Speaker Margaret Wilson in Parliament.

“The National Party does not support this new curb on media freedom within Parliament, and we have had nothing to do with a reported move by Margaret Wilson to ban cameras from filming outside select committee rooms.

“The National Party will be asking the Speaker to outline her reasons for this new media ban, imposed after questions were put by the media to those MPs travelling on the Speaker’s upcoming tour.

“National did not ask for it, we do not support it and we think the public are entitled to an open and transparent system of Government.  Labour may be launching a full scale assault on media and public freedom in election year - National wants no part of it.”

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