Speaker’s Statements — Privilege—Freedom of Speech in the House

Members, earlier this afternoon, in the debate on the Rotorua District Council (Representation Arrangements) Bill, there was a speech by a member which expressed some strongly held views. I am aware, and it is well known, that different parties in this House do hold genuinely held views around the policies of some of the parties. Some of those may be suggested to be racist in nature. However, there is a freedom of speech—strong freedom of speech—interest in members being able to express their views in this House. But that, of course, does have to be balanced by members calling other members racist. That will lead to disorder, and it doesn’t in any way assist the order and the debate of this House. I want to call on, finally, Speaker’s ruling 37/4, where it says, “It is incumbent on all members to treat the privilege of free speech in the House with the utmost respect and to use it only in the public interest”. Members, I’m happy to take another call, but I will have to cut the member off at five past six.