The Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Tiatia Graeme Tualaulelei, says TV1 airing a special programme devoted to Monday’s pre-Parliament briefing session is legal despite a ban on other media reporting on discussions. 

Tiatia said that banning media from covering Parliamentary pre-sittings was long-standing. Its authority, he said, was derived from the Speaker of the House, Leaupepe Toleafoa Fa’afisi, and the powers vested in the Legislative Powers and Privileges Ordinance 1960.

Pre-sitting sessions function as briefings and allow Chief Executive Officers, senior officials at state-owned enterprises and other senior Ministry figures to brief M.P.s on legislation about to come before Parliament. 

“In the past, the media were allowed to sit in, but they were not allowed to report on anything pertaining to the bills before they are tabled. Once it is tabled that’s when the bills become public information,” explained Tiatia.

But Tiatia noted that an exemption to the ban exists for media who are deemed to be covering pre-sittings when they receive approval to do so for “outreach” purposes.

The Legislative Clerk is referring to Parliament’s paid programme on TV1 on the pre-briefing which will be aired on Tuesday night, after Parliament’s final session for the year. 

“This is a paid program that’s aired on TV1,” he said. 

“It is for awareness programs and therefore all the new bills, the Chief Executive Officers are interviewed by [TV1] after the pre-sitting programs and it is only aired once the bills are tabled.”

He told the Samoa Observer that other members of the media are welcome to interview the respective Chief Executive Officers and others who brief Members of Parliament during the briefings. 

But he noted that Parliament’s standing orders only allow for the publication or broadcast of content related to bills once they are tabled before the Legislative Assembly. 

“Also another reason we encourage the Members of Parliament to attend the pre-sitting [and without the media] to encourage them to voice their concerns over the bills freely,” said Tiatia.

“Some Members of Parliament don’t want to raise concerns during sessions

He referenced media guidelines for covering Parliamentary sittings and general media rules for political journalism which indicated guidelines set by the Speaker of the House.

“The Parliament of Samoa recognises the importance of fair and factual reporting of Parliament proceedings,” he said. 

“The rules set forth ensure that whilst Parliament facilitates media access and reporting of its proceedings, it ensures that the [chamber’s function] as a working environment for Members and officials is maintained as well as the privacy of members and visitors.

“The […..] guidelines are issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. They apply to all media personnel who enter the Parliament.”