State Services Minister David Parker has laid a breach of privilege complaint with Parliament's Speaker against Act MP Heather Roy, saying she may have put someone's life at risk last week when she revealed the name of a police informer on a witness protection scheme.
Mr Parker saysMs Roy is guilty of "disgraceful conduct bringing the House into disrepute".
The minister has also questioned whether the Office of the Clerk, through Hansard or parliamentary television which republished the information, are entitled to do so.
The complaint relates to a question Ms Roy asked Mr Parker last Thursday. In doing so she revealed the name of a man who, while on parole, crashed when drink-driving and killed a 20-year-old woman. The name of the woman is also suppressed.
Ms Roy also revealed he was a police informer and was now in a witness protection scheme, the revelation that most concerns Mr Parker.
She said Mr Parker had a report on the case that showed the judge believed the man to be a first-time offender though police and Corrections knew his background.
Mr Parker has an official report into the matter but has not released it because information in it is subject to suppression orders, which the Crown is applying to have relaxed.
Heather Roy accused Mr Parker of a "despicable cover-up."
Under parliamentary privilege MPs have absolute freedom of speech and cannot be charged with breaching suppression orders.
In his complaint to Speaker Margaret Wilson, Mr Parker says Ms Roy's conduct was so disgraceful as to warrant consideration by the Privileges Committee.
Mr Parker has sent a copy of his complaint to Ms Roy but by last night she had not seen it. She said she was not worried about the privileges complaint.
Act leader Rodney Hide said Parliamentary privilege was precious and shouldn't be used to protect Government departments.
