Labour has accused Lobbyists for colluding with Solid Energy, Treasury and Cabinet Ministers to dupe the MPs and hide facts about the falling SOE.

Troubled Solid Energy had spent $50,000 on advice of the lobbyists on ways to provide evidence before a parliamentary select committee. Labour MP Clayton Cosgrove accused Bill English and Tony Ryall's office for colluding with the company management Treasury and lobbyists for during the authorities.

He said that the company's senior management avoided questions when they appeared before the MPs in March instead of providing straight answers about why the company found itself in a debt pool of $400 million. He said that Wellington lobbyists Saunders Unsworth worked with the company as well as Treasury and Cabinet Ministers to dodge through questions form the MPs and media on the company's rising debt.

The state coal miner was also advised not to speak to the media about their financial position. Solid Energy chairman Mark Ford had already admitted that Saunders Unsworth provided advice on the way to handle parliamentary committee hearings in February at a time when the miner faced a collapse due to falling coal prices and high debt.