Sittings of the House

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I wonder whether you can help me with regard to a procedure problem that we seem to face in this House. I draw your attention to page 3 of the Order Paper. We have three private members’ bills that will not be debated tonight, including the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Genetically Modified Organisms Moratorium Reinstatement) Amendment Bill, which New Zealand First desperately wants to debate and see passed in this House, and yet the Greens refuse to put that bill up for debate. What can we do to make sure that that bill can come before the House as soon as possible? We are likely to see an early adjournment tonight, and we still have 1 hour and 20 minutes to go. We could easily have considered that bill, yet the Greens do not want to put it up for us to debate tonight. What can we in New Zealand First do to make sure that that important legislation is dealt with?

💬 Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: The answer is that it is entirely up to the member who is promoting the bill. It is his decision.

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I have a parallel but different concern; it is with the way the Order Paper is being managed. I notice that time and time again this House rises early for dinner breaks, and consistently rises early on members’ night, yet the Government still goes into urgency, and even when it takes an urgency motion it still wants to rise early. There seems to be something going awry with the compilation of the Order Paper and the flow of matters of business to this House, and I think all members are concerned because it is happening too frequently.

💬 Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: That matter is entirely up to the House.

After discussion with other members and in light of the progress we have made on members’ day, I seek leave for the House to rise at this time.

💬 Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Leave has been sought for that purpose, and it is opposed. Leave is not granted.