Points of Order — Tabling of Ministerial Documents

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I raise a matter with you, because I was expecting a statement from the Government. Last week we were told by the Prime Minister, when I raised a question about whether she would table a ministerial document, that she would table all of the documents relating to the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and the Resource Management Amendment Bill (No 2). I was expecting that. I would also like to know from the Prime Minister whether she stands by her view of 23 February when she said to the then Prime Minister, Jenny Shipley, when she was tabling documents, that it should be done by ministerial statement.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: That is in the hands of the Government.

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. We have an interesting situation here. We have an MMP Parliament. Under first past the post, the Opposition party was allowed to raise a procedural matter. I am the leader of my party. I had what I took to be a solemn assurance from the Prime Minister that she would table those statements. I stopped asking questions on the basis that they were coming. I think I am entitled to ask the Prime Minister whether she will table them and whether that will be done by ministerial statement—just as she said should be the course for Jenny Shipley.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: I say to the member that he is perfectly entitled to raise a point of order, and I did not rule him out of order for raising it. I am just saying that the matter of whether that will be responded to is a matter for the Prime Minister, not a matter for anyone else.