Points of Order — Question No. 4 to Minister

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I think it is better to raise my point of order now rather than later, as it might give you a chance to think about the issue. I raise a point of order about Speakers’ rulings 115/2 to 115/6, and 116/1 and 116/2. Those rulings are about the transfer of questions to Ministers. The relevant ruling says that, really, it is not a matter for the Speaker, and the Minister can transfer responsibility.

I raise this issue in respect of question No. 4, in my name. The transfer has resulted in the question no longer being the question I wanted to ask. That has occurred because my question was whether the Minister of Police had had discussions with the Commissioner of Police, and what that meant for New Zealand front-line policing. It has now been transferred to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, so it now asks whether the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade has had discussions, and what that means for front-line policing in New Zealand. If I had wanted to ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade that question, I would have addressed my question to him. I want to know what the Minister of Police thinks.

I put this point to you. The reason I put “he” in the question is that if one writes “Minister of Police”, the Clerk’s Office always crosses it out and writes “he” above it. If the Government wants the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade to be the Minister of Police in New Zealand as well, that is its prerogative. But, just as the Clerk’s Office is able to cross out “Minister of Police” and put in “he”, in this case it should now cross out “he” and put in “Minister of Police”. If the Government really does want the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade to answer the question, it should now read: “Has the Minister of Police discussed with the Commissioner of Police ...”. That is the point I would like to put to you for you to think about before the House gets to my question.

Very rarely does the Government respond to that kind of question, except to reassert the power of the Government to transfer questions. But I think in this particular case the member has a point. I would be happy to seek leave for the question to be transferred back to the Minister of Police.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that course being followed? There is not. When the question is called, it will be to the Minister of Police.

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. That transfer may well have been finally agreed to by Dr Cullen, but if the Minister of Police is not here, then the question will be answered by the person about whom Mr Prebble complained in the first place. It is a device at that point in time, a trick and a ruse, and treating the House like a joke.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: No, the member is Acting Minister of Police. I can assure the member of that. The Minister of Police is overseas.