Green MP Julie Anne Genter will have to explain her behaviour to a committee of Parliament’s most senior MPs, following an outburst at another MP in Parliament last week.
Speaker Gerry Brownlee today confirmed the matter has been referred to Parliament’s Privileges Committee, after complaints were made about her behaviour in the House on Wednesday, not long after the valedictory speech by former Green Party co-leader James Shaw.
Brownlee said he’d received letters from National MP and chief whip Scott Simpson and ACT MP Todd Stephenson raising a matter of privilege regarding Genter’s conduct in the House on Wednesday.
A matter of privilege refers to considerations of how an MP has used — or abused — their privileges as a Member of Parliament.
“The conduct complained of could amount to threatening or intimidating a member acting in the discharge of their duty, or threatening a member on account of their conduct in Parliament,” Brownlee said.
He said it was not up to the Speaker to make a call on the veracity of the complaints’ content, but to refer that to the Privileges Committee — a body made up Parliament’s most senior MPs.
“The Speaker’s role in such matters is to determine whether the facts alleged could amount to a breach of privilege or a contempt of the House. Accordingly, I find that a question of privilege does arise, and that question stands referred to the Privileges Committee.”
The incident happened during a debate about transport. Genter rose from her seat, approached National MP Matt Doocey on the other side of the House, and stood over him, waving her arms. As she did so she could be heard saying “read the report” and “what is wrong with you?”
She soon apologised in the House but has not been seen at Parliament since, with the Greens’ co-leadership saying it was best she worked from home.
Yesterday, it was revealed Genter would return to work — albeit on the Chatham Islands, which was part of her Rongotai electorate.
The Speaker’s ruling meant the Privileges Committee would now consider testimonies and evidence about what occurred, and decide what consequences Genter might face.