International Parliamentary Code of Ethics

18 February 2009 Media Statement

International Parliamentary Code of Ethics

Labour MP Ross Robertson is to attend a GOPAC (Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption) meeting in London later this week to assist in the progression of an internationally applicable Guidebook on Parliamentary Ethics.

“There is considerable international support amongst legislators for such formal guidance,” he said.

“I have made repeated efforts to convince successive New Zealand parliaments to adopt such a Code, and I find it somewhat ironic that my colleagues overseas are moving faster than us.

“This Guidebook is close to completion and will be a guide, rather than a prescriptive document. A textbook cannot tell MPs how to behave, but MPs can tell themselves. MPs themselves in each jurisdiction must accept the responsibility of defining the standards they should adopt.

“The Code should be inspirational and supportive of MPs, the vast majority of whom are sincere, dedicated and committed individuals.”

Mr Robertson said outsiders should not underestimate how difficult it is for new MPs to know what acceptable behaviour is. “Increasingly we are seeing a high turnover of MPs in many countries, including New Zealand, and newcomers can find it difficult to identify and learn from role-models and thus develop acceptable and proper standards of behaviour.

“In the past, MPs would have rejected the idea of a job description as demeaning and inappropriate. But, today we discover that new MPs find it odd that no such thing exists and that no guidelines in the form of a code of practice are available.

“Maybe once the Guidebook is published New Zealand parliamentary leaders will see fit to reconsider the concept of a Code of Ethics for the New Zealand Parliament. We can but wait and see,” Mr Robertson commented.

ENDS