Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee has disputed a news report that said he had issued new access passes to lobbyists but declined to disclose their identities.
“There are no changes to the rules and I’ve only approved two [people] who come in as visitors,” he told Newsroom.
On Monday morning, RNZ reported Brownlee said the privacy of people with “lobbying roles” should be protected.
“Gerry Brownlee told RNZ he did not agree with the blanket ban on lobbyists having swipe card access and some discretion was needed,” the outlet reported.
“He had approved swipe card access for about four new people, who he said could be described as having lobbying roles. But they were not employed by professional lobbying firms and largely had jobs assisting parties in Parliament.”
Speaking to Newsroom, Brownlee pushed back on RNZ‘s “interpretation” of his comments.
“That story is an interesting set of headlines,” he said. Only two passes had been approved for new people – one for the Green Party and one for Te Pāti Māori.
“I made the comment that they could be considered lobbyists because they take a political position,” Brownlee said.
In a statement to Newsroom, a Green Party spokesperson said “the only swipe cards the Green Party has requested and had approved are for party officials who meet with MPs often, like the party secretary”.
“Te Pāti Māori does not have any personnel assisting in a ‘lobbying’ capacity with newly granted access to Parliament,” a Te Pāti Māori spokesperson said.
An Act Party spokesperson said no one had been granted a new pass to assist Act, and a National Party spokesperson said they weren’t aware of any visitor passes being issued for people in “lobbying roles” to assist National.
Newsroom has also reached out to the Labour Party for comment.
