Points of Order — Building Industry Reforms—Document Not Tabled

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. You will recall that yesterday I raised the issue of a member of Parliament making a statement in respect of a document proposed to be tabled, then not tabling the document. In this case Dr Nick Smith proposed to table a document in respect of a claim he had made about a prior speech of Mr Hawkins, which he said he had a record of. I have had my office check with the staff of the Clerk’s Office to see whether such a document was tabled, therefore and thereby verifying what Dr Smith had claimed in the House, and to their knowledge no such document was tabled. That is typical of the kind of behaviour I was complaining about yesterday.

My understanding was that members of the Government objected to my tabling the document, but for the benefit of Mr Peters I will be very happy to provide the speech made by Mr George Hawkins claiming that National had no right to claim credit for the building reforms of the early 1990s, because they were all Labour’s good work. I am happy to do that.

Madam Speaker, we were all here yesterday when you put the question, and there was no demur from anyone in the House. Now he puts up that lousy excuse for his failing to present the evidence behind his allegation.

💬 Madam SPEAKER: I do not think we need any more on this. Sometimes, with so many members asking to table papers, members do forget whether leave in fact was granted. We have heard Dr Smith’s explanation and the fact that he is happy to table them, but I will remind members that there is actually no requirement to table a document. The leave of the House permits it, but there is no actual requirement that it happen. If Dr Smith were to table it, I am sure that would help the House. If Dr Smith would like to seek leave again, then we would have the formalities clear.

I seek leave to table the speech made by the Hon George Hawkins in which he said that National had no right to claim credit for the building reforms of the early 1990s, and that they were all the work of the Labour Government.

Document, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.