TVNZ caned for punishing Fraser

Ian Fraser

TVNZ has been found in contempt of Parliament and all government agencies have been warned that failure to meet parliamentary obligations will not be tolerated. In a historic decision Parliament's privileges committee yesterday ruled the TVNZ board was in contempt for punishing former chief executive Ian Fraser over comments he made about the state broadcaster to the finance and expenditure committee last December.

Today the House will debate the committee's recommendations that TVNZ be fined $1000 and be ordered to formerly apologise to Parliament.

It is the first time in 103 years that the privileges committee has recommended a fine. The committee warned that higher fines would be recommended for further breaches.

Mr Fraser told the Herald he felt vindicated by the committee's finding.

The finding could embarrass TVNZ, which has been shaken by events including the resignation of Mr Fraser, declining news ratings, an employment dispute with Close Up presenter Susan Wood and fall-out from the doubling of former newsreader Judy Bailey's salary to $800,000.

Last night TVNZ would not comment.

The issue of contempt arose after TVNZ outgoing chairman Craig Boyce sent a letter to Mr Fraser following evidence he gave at the finance and expenditure committee that the TVNZ board held secret "bitch sessions" about management and was attempting to undermine him.

In the letter Mr Boyce said the comments amounted to "serious misconduct" and he stripped Mr Fraser of his remaining duties. Mr Boyce later withdrew the misconduct accusation, but the privileges committee said that was not sufficient.

It ruled that it was a contempt of Parliament for an employer to later penalise a person solely on the basis of evidence given to a select committee.

The committee emphasised that government agencies had a responsibility to be "open and forthright" in their dealings with select committees which were charged with scrutinising the spending of public money.

It said that recently agencies, in particular Radio NZ, TVNZ and Air NZ, had not been fulfilling their responsibilities.

"We intend to leave those who serve on the boards or in management of such organisations in no doubt that Parliament will treat with utmost seriousness any behaviour that impedes the proper process of accountability to the elected representative of the people."

Privileges committee chairman Simon Power said the committee felt strongly that a board message needed to come from the TVNZ issue.

The committee also found it "extraordinary" that neither TVNZ general counsel Noel Vautier nor law firm Bell Gully had raised the possibility that Mr Boyce's letter would breach Parliament's standing orders.

Mr Fraser said it was a basic principle that you did not try to intimidate or impede a witness and he was pleased the principle had been upheld.

Two days ago TVNZ publicly apologised to Mr Fraser over the "serious misconduct allegations", after settlement was reached over Mr Fraser's personal grievance case.

"I'm certainly moving on," Mr Fraser said, "and so is TVNZ."