Points of Order — Government Announcement—Media Embargo

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I would have raised this matter at the start but we seemed to get under way fairly quickly today. This morning there was an announcement by the Government that was embargoed until 4 minutes past 1, which meant that it could not be referred to the House by the Opposition for urgent debate—although that could still be the case tomorrow. The moment, obviously, of importance in this report is reflected by the fact that there was a 2-hour lock-up, we understand, for the media. In these circumstances, would you not expect the Government to make some sort of ministerial statement about the need to have such extraordinary security around what must be a very, very important Government announcement?

This is a matter not for the Speaker, but for the Government. As you said, if it is a matter of urgency then obviously tomorrow you could make application for the matter to be heard as an urgent debate.

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Is there not a question for the Speaker, though, about the appropriate use of mechanisms to prevent Parliament from discussing these things? This matter was so important that journalists had to be locked away to hear what the content of the announcement was. The embargo on it was not lifted until 4 minutes past 1, making sure that the House could not have its say on the matter. We, of course, all now get the report. It is incredibly bland, absolutely barren of anything that is of great moment—

💬 Madam SPEAKER: Mr Brownlee, you are repeating the same matter that I have ruled on. As the House is aware, it is for the Government to decide when it releases its publications. It is also up to the Government when it utilises the ministerial statement provision. It is not a question for the Speaker.

Question time resumed.