Urgent Debates Declined — Reviews—Targeted Policies and Programmes: Education Sector

I have received a letter from Dr Don Brash seeking to debate under Standing Order 373 the release by the Government on 23 June of its review of targeted policies and programmes. I have also received a letter from the Hon Bill English seeking to debate a report released by the State Services Commission on 18 July on an education sector review.

These are particular cases of recent occurrence that involve ministerial responsibility, but I am not persuaded that either requires the immediate attention of the House for an urgent debate today. In the case of the release of a report, the circumstances must be exceptional in order to justify an urgent debate—see Speaker’s ruling 155/6—as they must be in any case, but it is also the case that the House is about to embark on the estimates debate, which is a relevant consideration for the Speaker in deciding whether to accept an application, as per Speaker’s ruling 155/2. The applications are therefore declined.

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I ask you to consider what “exceptional circumstances” might mean. The review of targeted policies and programmes was released by the Government at 4 o’clock in the afternoon on the last sitting day of the House before a 4-week adjournment. There was absolutely no chance that there would be questions on subsequent days through the questioning process. This is the first time the House has had any opportunity to discuss that review. I ask you what “exceptional” means. If it is a protection the Government can use under cover of a forthcoming recess to dump something it does not want discussed, then I think that takes away some of the rights of the House.

Accordingly, I seek leave for the House to have an urgent debate on the review of targeted policies and programmes, which was released by the Government late last month.

💬 Madam SPEAKER: Leave is sought to have an urgent debate. Is there any objection? Yes, there is.