National MP Tim van de Molen referred to Privileges Committee for alleged ‘threatening or intimidating’ behaviour

National MP for Waikato Tim van de Molen has been referred to Parliament's Privileges Committee. Photo / Mark Mitchell

National MP Tim van de Molen has been referred to Parliament’s Privileges Committee.

It followed a complaint by Labour’s Rachel Boyack, relating to van de Molen’s conduct towards the chairman of the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee, Shanan Halbert on June 29.

Speaker Adrian Rurawhe said versions of events differed, but if the allegation made was correct, “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”.

The Herald understands the matter relates to an exchange between van de Molen and Halbert after the committee wrapped up for the day. Van de Molen allegedly stood over Halbert in a threatening way, causing other MPs to gather around Halbert out of concern for his safety.

MPs cannot discuss matters before the Privileges Committee in any detail, lest they themselves breach privilege.

The Herald is also limited in what it can report.

Rurawhe said it was not his role to determine whether the allegation was correct or not, and that referring the matter to the committee did not imply guilt. It was the role of the Committee to determine what actually happened.

”The Speaker’s role as such matters is to determine whether the facts alleged could, if true, amount to a breach of privilege or contempt of the House,” Rurawhe said.

”The speaker does not inquire into the veracity of the evidence presented or conduct and inquiring into the allegation that is the role of the Privileges Committee,” he said.

Van de Molen told the Herald the facts of the case were contested.

“As the matter is before the Privileges Committee I cannot comment,” he said.

Transport and Infrastructure Committee chairman Shanan Halbert. Photo / Alex Burton

The Committee had been questioning David Parker on that day of the incident. At the end of the session, Halbert said time was up and a man’s voice can be heard raising the number of questions.

Halbert replied “I think you’ve had very sufficient amount of questions.” The man speaks again, inaudibly, and Halbert replies “I can give you a count, like I said last week.”

The Privileges Committee has been busier than usual this term, as multiple MPs have found themselves in trouble.

Education Minister Jan Tinetti was referred to the committee earlier this year for taking too long to correct an incorrect statement she made in the House.

Act’s Simon Court was also referred to the committee for breaching committee confidentiality in a press release.

Former Transport Minister Michael Wood is currently before the committee for incorrectly declaring his significant shareholdings.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson said it was “never acceptable to bully people in select committee or anywhere else for that matter”.

Act Leader David Seymour joked that the committee was very busy with MPs getting in trouble.

“I thought it would be an easy lark but we’ve got people getting referred every week now. Business has never been better on the Privileges Committee,” he said.

National’s Chris Bishop said the “facts are contested’.

“The matter is before the Privileges Committee, I am a member of the Privileges Committee, I can’t make any more comment - I’m sorry,” he said.