23 June 2008

Politicians still at bottom of list of respected professions

“Until such time as Parliament adopts a Code of Ethics, politicians will remain at the bottom of the Readers’ Digest list of respected professions, as released today,” Assistant Speaker, Ross Robertson, said.

“While politicians are no longer 40 out of the 40 professions listed, second last with only telemarketers behind us is no vote of confidence in what Parliamentarians are and do,” he said.

Ross Robertson has proposed such a Code in each of the last three Parliaments, and the current application is with Parliament’s Standing Orders Committee, who, he is assured, are giving the proposal serious consideration.

Mr Robertson said that there are two very good reasons to adopt a Code of Conduct.

“The first is that parliamentarians need guidelines upon which ethical behaviour can be judged – both inside and outside the House.

“And, secondly, the parliamentary profession is assessed so low because there is very little trust in politicians in general,” he said.

Mr Robertson has indicated that if his submissions are dismissed again that he will be introducing a new private member’s bill into the new Parliament in order to get the issue discussed in the House and to get it onto the Parliamentary agenda.

ENDS

© Scoop Media