Business Statement

Next week Dr Brash’s valedictory speech will be the first item of business on Tuesday, following oral questions. Priority will then be given to the first readings of the Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill, and the Appropriation (2005/06 Financial Review) Bill, on which there is no debate. It is then the Government’s intention to take urgency for the following business: the remaining stages of the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Amendment Bill, the Telecommunications Amendment Bill, and the Taxation (Annual Rates, Savings Investment, and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill; the third reading of the Law Reform (Epidemic Preparedness) Bill; any other first readings on the Order Paper; then the adjournment motion, which will include the motion on the House sitting programme for 2007.

I thank the Leader of the House for that information. It will be useful for members who are planning the last week of the parliamentary year.

I do wonder, though, whether the Leader of the House would be prepared to grant leave this afternoon for a snap debate so that the House can express a view on the appropriateness, or otherwise, of Television New Zealand making available its satellite broadcast equipment to Commodore Frank Bainimarama last Tuesday night so that he could broadcast live to the world his intention to overthrow the democratically elected Government of Fiji.

It is certainly not a matter involving ministerial responsibility. I have no intention of granting leave for that.

I seek leave for there to be an urgent question today to the Minister responsible for Television New Zealand—either the Minister for State Owned Enterprises, the Prime Minister herself, or some other Minister who is prepared to answer the question—as to why equipment owned by the New Zealand taxpayer was made available to the usurper of the democratically elected Government in Fiji.

💬 Hon Dr Michael Cullen: When was this news made public?

This news was made available to me just minutes before the House sat this afternoon. I think it is, clearly, something that the Government would know about, because the Government, of course, owns Television New Zealand.

💬 Hon Dr Michael Cullen: It may come as surprising news to the member, but Television New Zealand does not tell the Government very much at all about anything it does.

💬 Madam SPEAKER: Leave is sought. Is there any objection? There is objection.