Wellington.Scoop
It became evident yesterday why the Wellington firm of Saunders Unsworth can claim to be New Zealand’s pre-eminent government relations and lobbying consultancy. When the Speaker released a previously-secret list of members of the public who have been given access cards admitting them into Parliament without security screening, Saunders Unsworth were shown to have three of the 15 cards. No other organisation has more than one.
The list also confirms the influence of Sky Television – its lobbyist Tony O’Brien is on the exclusive list of 15.
Press Release – Office of the Speaker – July 25
Parliament’s Speaker, Dr the Rt Hon Lockwood Smith, today released the full list of members of the public who hold access cards to Parliament approved by the Speaker’s Office.
“The 15 approved visitors include the spouses of two former Members of Parliament. I am releasing the list in the interest of transparency and to avoid any involvement of the Speaker’s Office in who may or may not be considered lobbyists.”
“Dr Smith said that members of the public were only given approved visitor status if they had been security cleared and agreed to their names being public.
“The benefit of being an approved visitor is that the person does not have to be security screened each time he or she comes to Parliament. Instead, an approved visitor can access the public areas of Parliament through a security cleared entrance”, said Dr Smith.
CARD HOLDERS
| Name | Organisation |
|
Nicholas Albrecht |
Vector |
| Tim Clarke | Russell McVeagh |
| Peter Conway | Council of Trade Unions |
| Daniel Fielding | Minter Ellison Rudd Watts |
| Charles Finny | Saunders Unsworth |
| Helen Kelly | Council of Trade Unions |
| Tony O’Brien | Sky TV |
| Phil O’Reilly | Business NZ |
| Leigh Pearson | L.A. Pearson Limited |
| Barrie Saunders | Saunders Unsworth |
| Mark Unsworth | Saunders Unsworth |
| Jordan Williams | Franks & Ogilvie |
| Rasik Ranchord | Parliamentary Breakfast Group |
| Mrs Philippa Falloon | Former MP’s spouse |
| Lady Jane Kidd | Former MP’s spouse |
Content Sourced from scoop.co.nz [1]
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