Good to see Privileges Committee acting unamiously

Stuff reports:

The report into Tim van de Molen has just dropped. It has found Tim van de Molen should be censured for his behaviour towards Labour MP Shanan Halbert, and is in contempt of Parliament for stopping him doing his duties.

“We find that Mr van de Molen’s conduct towards Mr Halbert amounted to threatening him, that Mr Halbert was impeded in the discharge of his duties as a member, and that in doing so, Mr van de Molen committed a contempt of the House.”

The privileges committee said van de Molen’s conduct was not normal or acceptable, and that Parliamentary staff all considered calling security at the time of the incident. 

When the evidence is clear, it is good to see the Privileges Committee agree unanimously that the actions of an MP were wrong. In fact all their decisions this year have been unanimous.

This is a real change from 2008 when disgracefully Labour MPs dissented from the findings about Winston Peters, despite overwhelming evidence.