Urgent Debates Declined — Carbon Tax—Introduction

I have received a letter from John Key, seeking to debate under Standing Order 373 a Government announcement that the carbon tax will be set at $15 per tonne, and will be introduced in April 2007. This announcement is a particular case of recent occurrence involving ministerial responsibility, but as Speaker’s ruling 154/7 makes clear, not every ministerial announcement, even an important one, will give grounds for an urgent debate. In this case, as the carbon tax does not take effect until April 2007 I do not believe that there are grounds for an urgent debate to be held on it today. I therefore decline the application.