Behaviour ‘unbecoming' of govt role
A former Green party leader is accusing David Seymour of behaviour "unbecoming" of the role of deputy prime minister after she was targeted for her criticism of a controversial Bill.
In the past week, Mr Seymour has made a series of social media posts singling out several prominent opponents of his Regulatory Standards Bill and accusing them of suffering from "Regulatory Standards Derangement Syndrome."
One of those targeted was University of Otago senior law lecturer and former Green party co-leader Metiria Stanton Turei who wrote an opinion piece, published in the Otago Daily Times on June 13, with the headline "The Regulatory Standards Bill is an attack on all of us".
Her piece was critical of the Bill, which proposes a set of regulatory principles required for lawmakers, agencies and ministries to consider in regulation design.
Mrs Stanton Turei said the legislation would exclude Māori language, culture and legal perspectives, constrain future governments and impact the environment.
In a social media post on June 19, Mr Seymour labelled Mrs Stanton Turei "victim of the day" and laid out why he believed her arguments against the Bill were wrong — saying she was "spinning conspiracies".
Mrs Stanton Turei said Mr Seymour's behaviour was "unbecoming" of a deputy prime minister.
"It's arguably in breach of the cabinet manual and contrary to his advocacy of the right of academic freedom," she said.
Metiria Stanton Turei. Photo: file
She declined to make any further comment.
Mr Seymour's office said he had addressed the matter at Monday's post cabinet stand-up, where he rubbished claims his posts breached the cabinet manual.
"There's no such breach. If people want to go out and make completely incorrect statements, then I'm going to get a bit playful and have some fun with them."
He said pointing out there was a "curious syndrome that is causing people to say untrue things" was different from outright calling them deranged.
Another critic singled out by Mr Seymour, Dame Anne Salmond said his campaign was "lame, even laughable" but also an abuse of high office, and said she would formally lodge a complaint with the Cabinet Office.
Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau accused Mr Seymour of setting a "dangerous precedent" for how dissenting voices were treated, and laid a formal complaint with the Prime Minister over the posts.
The Regulatory Standards Bill passed its first reading last month and submissions on the Bill closed on Monday.
The Finance and Expenditure Committee will consider the submissions, with its final report due by November 22. — additional reporting RNZ
ruby.shaw@odt.co.nz
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