Labour leader Chris Hipkins says he welcomes efforts to improve the parliamentary culture. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
The ACT leader's opposition to the commissioner for parliamentary standards is "ridiculous", given his party's current complaints and past behaviour, Labour's leader says.
Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee advised MPs to take complaints to the new commissioner - who has not received any yet - but said he would be more vigilant in upholding Parliament's standards.
It follows allegations of racial harassment against Children's Minister and ACT MP Karen Chhour.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins on complaints against speaker Brownlee
But ACT leader David Seymour said Parliament should be a self-governing community and not rely on a un-elected commissioner.
Labour's Chris Hipkins said that was "ridiculous".
Most parties in Parliament supported having someone independent investigating complaints, he told Morning Report.
"Apparently except the ACT party, which is ironic given they are the ones currently making most of the complaints, and in the past have been actually the ones dishing out some of the worst behaviour."
Poor behaviour in Parliament was about the same as it had always been, but there was less tolerance for it, and that was a good thing, Hipkins said.
"I've witnessed some horrific stuff during the time that I've been here, I mean I witnessed ministers in the last government being absolutely harassed by some of the people who are now complaining about that kind of behaviour."