The Epidemic Response Committee has been credited internationally as a significant constitutional check and balance on the executive's lawful albeit wide-reaching powers whilst we are under a state of emergency. Both sides of this House agree that in order to maintain public trust and confidence in our political institutions, questions should be and must be put to those entrusted with the power to make decisions on our collective behalf. But, as Professor Andrew Geddis, one of New Zealand's leading constitutional academics, observed today, the issuance of a summons to public servants sets out an extremely worrying precedent to waive that legal privilege. He has said that it isn't for a parliamentary committee to determine whether or not legal privilege should be waived but that this is an issue for the courts. This is a disgraceful use of a coercive power. It undermines the independence of the Public Service and it also risks undermining the fundamental precipice of the separation of powers.