Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick has avoided being kicked out of the House after calling out what she claimed was a "demonstrable lie" told by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon while he defended his Government's stance on climate change.
It comes a day after Resources Minister Shane Jones launched an attack on the "hysteria surrounding climate change" in a speech he gave in Parliament. He added that "one of the great lies about climate change is that, yes, apparently, it's a crisis".
Greens co-leader Marama Davidson read out the quote to the Prime Minister today during question time and asked Luxon whether he was "embarrassed" by it.
As National leader, he previously has said: "There's no reason for climate deniers and climate minimalists in the twenty-first century."
Responding to Jones' comments, Luxon didn't defend the NZ First MP's remarks, but said simply: "Climate change is a crisis."
He continued in a follow-up question from Davidson: "We're not weakening our actions on climate change. We're just going about it a different way."
Swarbrick yelled out: "That's a demonstrable lie!"
Accusing an MP of lying is usually regarded as an infraction against Parliament's standing orders, and would often result in a member withdrawing their comment and apologising.
ACT leader David Seymour then stood to contest the comment: "After the Prime Minister resumed his seat, I heard Chlöe Swarbrick say that's a demonstrable lie.
"It's quite a serious accusation to make of any member and I wonder what your (the Speaker's) view is and how you're going to enforce such rules."
Speaker Gerry Brownlee said he didn't hear the comment, but that if Swarbrick had made the remark, then "she might consider withdrawing and apologising".
Following Brownlee's comment, Swarbrick sat in silence before responding - eliciting commotion from other MPs. "My point was that it's demonstrable," she said.
She added a moment later: "Mr Speaker, I was thinking to the content of the policies as put forward by this Government, and the fact that the content of those policies are a lie."
"If the inference is that, therefore the minister or the Prime Minister are a liar - that wasn't the statement that I was making.
"I was pointing out that it is demonstrable, on the evidence that the undertakings from this government are completely contrary to our climate commitments."
The Speaker responded: "Okay, I think we'll move on. That is an opinion. Others will make a judgement on whatever Hansard record might eventually show."
Earlier, while responding to Davidson, Luxon said: "We're deeply committed to delivering on our climate goals and commitments.
"The way we go about doing that may be different from the previous government but don't misunderstand our commitment to the targets and goals."
Swarbrick refuses to apologise
Speaking to media afterwards, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said Swarbrick "got caught out".
He suggested, that if the comments were reflected in Hansard, then the matter "goes up to the Privileges Committee".
Shortly after, Swarbrick stood by her comments in the House and refused to apologise whilst speaking to media.
"I came to this House to tell the truth and the Government's policies are active climate denialism," she said.
"Demonstrably, the content of that statement - as I said in the House - was a lie insofar as there is an inconsistency between the flowery rhetoric that being is used and what is necessary to keep us within 1.5 degrees of warming."
When asked about potential ramifications in Parliament's Privileges Committee, Swarbrick appeared unperturbed.
"We have a responsibility as Parliamentarians to tell the truth, and I’ll work through any of the consequences that come through in the House, as is necessary to keep the focus on the climate crisis and the existential threat that it poses to humanity and to all of the biodiversity that this Government seems intent on bringing down".
SHARE ME