-
Parliament is disrupted by a man attempting to jump off the viewing balcony - Source: ONE News -
Watch Video
-
Related
Speaker Lockwood Smith is under news media fire for banning the New Zealand Herald from covering Parliament for 10 days, after publishing a photograph he deemed in breach of Parliament's Standing Orders.
The Speaker handed down the punishment - to apply from next Monday - after the Herald published a photograph on its website on Wednesday of guards and members of the public restraining a man who was trying to jump from the public gallery into the debating chamber.
The ban was today criticised by the editor of a rival newspaper as curtailing press freedom.
Dominion Post editor Bernadette Courtney said the ban was "outrageous", and she would complain to the Speaker.
"It's an outrageous attack on the freedom of the press, it was a news event and the public had the right to see what was happening - you can't sanitise news.
"I will be taking it up with the Honourable Lockwood Smith. News organisations know they must obey the rules of Parliament, and breaches are few and far between.
"This was a news event, and news decisions should be made by editors - not politicians."
Smith was unrepentant today about what was thought to be one of the longest bans handed down to the news media.
"It's a serious issue. It's not as if they've just breached a protocol, it's a Standing Order of Parliament, and they did it wilfully," he said.
While taking the photo was a breach it was "not a hangable offence, but it was published knowingly, it was published wilfully - members have to obey the Standing Orders, and so do the media in the Gallery."
"The reason why it's the Herald being disciplined and not just the particular reporter is that the Herald chose to publish the item on its website."
After the breach was raised with him by another Press Gallery member, he had discussed it with the Clerk of the House, and listened to the views of the Herald.
Parliament rose prior to the general election yesterday, lessening the impact of the ban. Had the House been sitting, the ban might have been shorter, Smith said, but he considered it "appropriate".
Herald staff could still get to their offices as guests if invited by those with accreditation, but were banned from areas such as ministerial offices, Smith said.
"Presumably they can be taken in as a guest of someone, just like any other member of the public, I would imagine. I don't see why they couldn't access their offices, if someone takes them in."
Prime Minister John Key was not consulted about the issue, as it was a matter for the Speaker.
The suspension of the Herald's accreditation bars the paper's journalists from the complex, including ministers' offices in the Beehive.
Herald editor Tim Murphy said the Speaker's decision was so disproportionate it was outrageous.
"He is attempting to shut down the Herald's coverage of politics six weeks from the general election for publishing a genuine news picture, a picture that had no negative consequences for Parliament or its members."
He said the public had a right to know just how close things had come to serious injury.
The photo showed the efforts of members of the public to avert injuries all round, he said.
It did not risk bringing Parliament or its members into disrepute.
"If this extreme decision stands, we will obviously work from outside Parliament to continue to let readers know what is going on inside it."
In June last year, the Speaker suspended 22 Parliament car-parking permits held by TV One and TV3 after their crews pursued former MP Chris Carter down stairwells in the complex and filmed in his secretary's office in his absence.
Latest NZ News Video
-
ONE News Minute 9am update: May 26 (1:00)
-
Kids cough up $14m for Government (1:50)
-
Education ministry 'barbaric' (1:55)
