Editorial: Denying deaf MP is unfair

Controversy erupted this week regarding the funding of a note-taker to provide deaf MP Mojo Mathers with an instant transcript of parliamentary debate.

Speaker Lockwood Smith said the cost to ensure Ms Mathers gets instant transcripts of what's going on in the House should be funded through her support budget. The Green Party has argued that other MPs don't need to dip into their budgets to participate in Parliament and making Ms Mathers do so would amount to discrimination. Too right.

Dr Smith maintains he was hamstrung by the rules.

What a ridiculous situation.

Clearly, the rules need to be altered so that New Zealand's first profoundly deaf MP isn't always two steps behind everyone else.

Ms Mathers says paying the $20,000 to $30,000 cost of a note-taker from her MP support budget or getting it from her party would be unfair and she's right.

She has every right to feel aggrieved and surely most New Zealanders will have felt aggrieved on her behalf.

We supposedly encourage people with disabilities to fully participate in our democratic, modern society.

Dr Smith's defence that the rules didn't allow him to grant special funding for a parliamentary note-taker for Ms Mathers was a cop out.

He said the issue was on the agenda for next month's Parliamentary Service Commission meeting and he hoped a solution could be found between MPs, rather than turning to the taxpayer for more money.

Dr Smith showed a decided lack of empathy.

He could have pre-empted the whole outcry had he, rather than hiding behind the rules, shown some leadership and spoken out in support of Ms Mathers, said the rules obviously needed altering and told her he'd take it up on her behalf.

Instead, he went on about how much the Parliamentary Service was already doing for Ms Mathers, as if it were a big favour rather than what she should rightfully get to help her do her job.

It's hard to imagine taxpayers would deny Ms Mathers what she needs to represent the people who voted for her in this democratic country which purports to exclude nobody.