The Ombudsman has confirmed the Prime Minister's Office unreasonably withheld secret briefings, and the Green Party has obtained a new OIA showing the same private email problem in other Ministers' offices, suggesting a potentially systemic problem across Government.
“New Zealanders have the right to know who is influencing political decision making, and how,” says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.
“Regular people do not get to exchange secret emails with the Prime Minister's top officials, getting the law ultimately changed in their favour. But that's exactly what's happened for this country's biggest polluters, and Luxon continues to try and shrug it off as business as usual.”
“That should worry anyone who cares about democracy.”
The Green Party has separately obtained an OIA showing the office of Parliamentary Under-Secretary Simon Court received Beef + Lamb New Zealand RMA reform lobbying material on a non-work account in February, while that sector was pushing to reshape the Government's resource management changes.
“One office is a problem. Two is a pattern. From climate law to RMA reforms in select big industries' favour, Luxon's Government is clearly getting far too comfortable ticking off lobbyist wish lists.”
“We invite the Prime Minister not to merely just remind everybody about the already existing rules, but strengthen them, to ensure this kind of behaviour ends.”
“The Greens are, as always, ready and willing to work across the aisle to improve the rules, support transparency, and uphold our democracy,” says Swarbrick.
