New Zealand First MP Shane Jones says Te Pāti Māori MP Tākuta Ferris has no respect for Parliament and is “astounded” Ferris has not apologised for comments implying parliamentarians tell lies.
It comes as Speaker Gerry Brownlee referred Ferris to Parliament’s Privileges Committee over comments he made in Parliament last week.
Last Wednesday in the House, Ferris said a “knowledge gap” was a “dangerous thing” and “allows lies to be presented as truths”.
“Politicians call this obfuscation. The art of making something unclear, intentionally vague, ambiguous, to conceal or obscure the truth, to confuse others.
“Lies – in other words. Many in this House are masters of it, and it is a disservice to those who voted you into your positions.”
It is against Parliament’s rules for MPs to call one another liars. NZ First leader Winston Peters called a point of order and Speaker Gerry Brownlee appeared unaware of Ferris’ comments, saying if he had made that comment he was to withdraw and apologise.
Ferris responded he had not, and Brownlee allowed him to resume his speech, noting “we will check it and I do hope the member hasn’t misled the House with that particular claim”.
Today, Brownlee said there was an “apparent inconsistency” with Ferris’ speech and his response to the point of order.
Brownlee said it would usually be dealt with as a matter of order but as Ferris had denied he made the statement, it was “possible” Ferris had “deliberately misled the House” – which is a matter of parliamentary privilege.
Brownlee said therefore the matter had been referred to the Privileges Committee, which convenes senior MPs to ascertain whether MPs have transgressed Parliament’s rules, and gives out punishments.
NZ First MP Jamie Arbuckle had written to the Speaker raising the issue.
Asked about the issue afterwards, Ferris appeared unwilling to stop to talk to reporters, saying “when I learn what [the complaint] is I’ll talk to it”.
“I’ve never been through one, so we’ll have to find out.”
Jones said he was “astounded” Ferris had not apologised to Parliament.
He said Ferris had “offended Parliament”.
“The thing to bear in mind is there’s been lots of Māori who have tried and failed to come to Parliament.
“There’s been a few of us [who] have been kakī mārō, which means we’ve led with our chin – myself and Dover [Samuels], even John Tamihere – but I haven’t struck his level of swagger before.
“The fact that he wears a t-shirt and doesn’t believe that the rules of Parliament apply to him just astounds me.”
He continued: “I’m sad that he did not apologise. I think he does a disservice to the people [who] sent him to Parliament.
“I think he wants all the trappings of being a Parliamentarian but none of the obligations of hard work or the expectations of service.”
