Urgent Debates Declined — New Zealand Balance of Payments—Deficit

I have received a letter from the Hon Sir Roger Douglas seeking to debate under Standing 380 the state of New Zealand’s balance of payments deficit. The state of the balance of payments deficit is an ongoing situation. A proposal to discuss an ongoing problem does not constitute a particular case of recent occurrence. For there to be a particular case of recent occurrence there must be either a new situation or a new development in an existing situation of sufficient importance in itself to warrant the business of the House being set aside. The urgent debate procedure is a means of debating matters that have occurred. It is not a means of debating matters that may or may not occur in the future. There will be other parliamentary opportunities to consider the state of the balance of payments deficit. The application is, therefore, declined.