Fair call on network car parking
June 18th, 2010 at 7:22 am by David FarrarThe Herald reports:
TV3 and Television New Zealand have been punished following breaches of Parliament’s rules, including one cameraman entering and filming inside Labour MP Chris Carter’s suite of offices in his absence and without his permission.
Lockwood Smith withdrew parking entitlements for their networks in Parliament’s basement carpark after they failed to get permission to film in the corridor and stairwell. However he also noted a cameraman had entered an MP’s offices without permission – a clear breach of parliamentary rules.
This is a fair call. MPs are publicly accountable, but it doesn’t mean their offices are public space.
Tags: Chris Carter, Lockwood Smith, Parliament, TV3, TVNZ
June 18th, 2010 at 7:43 am
These same people speak in shocked tones of a sense of entitlement. Bigger issues? Stone me! It was a disgusting attempt to capture embarrassment.
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 7:49 am
This was school yard bullying through and through. The actions of those reporters was outrageously disproportionate to what Carter had been up to. There failure to attach correct weight to this, and the comments by Andi Britherston above, really call into question their sense of judgement.
Good on the speaker for taking a stand. Shame he couldn’t name them in the House or something.
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 7:58 am
Could Andi Brotherston be lining herself up to replace Rachel “Pork Chop” Glucina as the Herald’s gossip columnist?
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 8:00 am
NO1tocommentoften – Mr Speaker probably has inherent jurisdiction to haul the journos and camera people up before the bar of the House and deliver them a good dressing-down if he chose to.
I see he has allowed them outside parks. Hope these are as far away as possible from the entrance.
Anyway I just cannot see how each TV channel can justify having at least 11 Press Gallert people.
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 8:10 am
The breech of Parliamentary Privilege by the journalist entering Chris Carter’s office is very significant, and I for one would like to see that action followed up by criminal charges.
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 8:29 am
I would regard entering an MP’s office uninvited to be a very serious issue and I agree with Grant, criminal charges should folllow.
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 8:32 am
So who is being punished? The wayward journo’s … or all journo’s?
Is this a case of making all kids stay in at play time because someone sneaked into the staffroom?
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 8:36 am
No real difference between their behaiviour and Carter’s. All based on a sense of entitlement and self-importance that puts them in a self-selected and privileged category that the rest of the populace do not enjoy
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 8:48 am
Come, come children.
You have it all wrong.
The House of Representatives is “their” House.
It does not belong to the people.
We, the people, just have to pay (and have paid) for it.
Well, that is the way the ex TV show/cattle breeder/speaker sees it, as do his colleagues.
But, on the other hand….
As a former Press Gallery reporter (when reporters were reporters and not “journalists”) I know all too well that hunting in a pack (really just self aggrandizement – “See how powerful we are”?) serves only to bring out the very worst of human insticts – the pack mentality.
Vote:TVNZ and TV3 need to grow up! Sanctions deserved.
June 18th, 2010 at 9:01 am
Lockwood Smith is an “ex TV show”….?
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 9:01 am
“3 News political editor Duncan Garner said the crew “knowingly” broke the rules, but he had no regrets because Mr Carter needed to front up.”
Vote:Speaks volumes doesnt it, and in a strange coincidence wasn’t yesterday the anniversary of that small incident in a well known Washington Hotel
June 18th, 2010 at 9:10 am
The over inflated chasing the now deflated. Entitlementitis rampant.
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 9:24 am
Who the fuck appointed Duncan bloody Garner and his stupid tie collect to the guardian of morality?
Hes bloody journo and this flagrant disregard for the rules should colour who everything he produces is viewed. He wasn’t chasing Carter, he was chasing ratings and everyone knows it.
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 9:29 am
…chasing ratings…
..and their own egos.
Journalists used to report news. Now some of them think they make the news and they are the news.
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 9:38 am
I have an ex-wife if I need to have someone tell me what to think.
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 9:41 am
Danyl made a good point that there wasn’t a lot of enquiry into jetsetting politicians when there were also jetsetting journalists!
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Jetsetting is an entitlement of journalism. There are countless examples but one that comes to mind is one of them trying to make himself heard on-camera amongst the street crowd at Obama’s inauguration. The only reason I could think of for them being there was to try and include themselves in the news of the day. It came across as “look at me, I’m here” pathetic.
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 9:54 am
I am unsure what the Speaker could have done here. The punishment should reflect the actions they took. Barging into an MPs office is serious and the persons who did it should be removed from the complex for 3 months.
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 11:53 am
I agree that Carter, Brown and these journalists all belong in the same club. They have an innate belief they are better than all of the rest of us. Well Done The Speaker!
Vote:June 18th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
I agree, this was bullying and hounding of Carter. Ironic sense of self entitlement. A journalist can follow me to my building if they must but they cannot follow me into my office – MPs deserve the same.
Vote: