Winston Peters Letters To Speaker Concerning PM Breach Of Privilege
Winston Peters Letters To Speaker Concerning PM Breach Of Privilege
Two letters to Speaker Lockwood Smith from Rt Hon Winston Peters tabled in Parliament today - 16th October 2012 - concerning an alleged breach of privilege by Prime Minister John Key in statements made n the GCSB /Kim Dotcom affair.
LETTER ONE
3 October 2012
Dr The Rt. Hon. Lockwood Smith
MP
Speaker
House of Representatives
Rm 1.019
PH
Dear Mr Speaker,
I write to you to request that
an investigation be undertaken into a breach of
parliamentary privilege by the Rt Hon John Key.
It is my
view that Mr Key has misled the House in answering Oral
Question 10 on the 26th September 2012. Please find the
Hansard of this attached.
Today, in a Government press
release it was revealed that Mr Key was first made aware of
Mr Dotcom at a GCSB briefing on the 29th February 2012.
Please find the press release attached.
I maintain that
under Standing Order 406 (1) (a) this action has both
obstructed and impeded the House in the performance of its
function; and that under Standing Order 406 (1) (b) this
omission has obstructed and impeded the questioning of
members of the House.
Under Standing Order 407 (b) I
believe that the House ought to treat this misleading of the
House as contempt.
Thank you for your consideration
LETTER TWO
15 October 2012
Dr The
Rt. Hon. Lockwood Smith MP
Speaker
House of
Representatives
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PARLIAMENT
HOUSE
Dear Mr Speaker
On the 3rd of October I wrote to you in order to raise an issue of a breach of parliamentary privilege.
I provided several excerpts of supporting evidence which I believe amounts to a prima facie case against the Prime Minister.
Since lodging that breach of privilege letter with your office, twelve days have elapsed in which your office has neither acknowledged the letter, nor come to a decision regarding the breach of privilege.
This letter seeks an explanation as to why no answer from your office has been forthcoming.
Thank you for your consideration.
Yours sincerely
Rt Hon
Winston Peters
Leader
New Zealand
First
ENDS