Decided 27 June 1994 Transcript(s) Privy Council ruling | Citation(s) [1994] 3 NZLR 1 End date June 27, 1994 | |
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Full case name Richard William Prebble Appellant v Television New Zealand Limited Respondents Court Privy Council of the United Kingdom Judge sittings Henry Keith, Baron Keith of Kinkel | ||
Richard Prebble v Television New Zealand Ltd [1994] 3 NZLR 1 is a cited case in New Zealand regarding claims in defamation and the defence of parliamentary privilege.
Contents
Background
TVNZ's news programme "Frontline" aired a show highly critical of the fourth Labour government and minister Richard Prebble's handling of state asset sales.
Prebble found this programme to be defamatory to him, and he sued TVNZ for defamation.
As part of TVNZ's defence, they tried to include statements made in Parliament by Prebble as evidence against his claim.
In response, Prebble applied to the courts that under Article 9 of the Bill of Rights 1688, any statements made in Parliament cannot be used in any court.
Held
The Privy Council ruled that that which had been said in Parliament was privileged, and could not be used by TVNZ as a defence against defamation allegations.