Urgent Debates Declined — Waterview Connection—Funding Announcement

I have received a letter from the Hon Darren Hughes seeking to debate under Standing Order 380 the Government’s announcement on funding options for the Waterview Connection. Standing Order 380 requires that the matter for debate be a particular case of recent occurrence involving ministerial responsibility. Not every announcement by the Government can give grounds for a debate. The New Zealand Transport Agency board is meeting today to consider alternative options, and is scheduled to announce its decision tomorrow. The announcement today is part of a decision-making process. No decision of the preferred option for the Waterview Connection has yet been made.

For there to be a particular case of recent occurrence, an event on which an urgent debate is sought must have occurred. The purpose of the debate is to hold the Government accountable for its decisions. This does not mean that the matter is not of sufficient importance to require the attention of the House. It simply does not meet the requirements of an urgent debate procedure today. The application is therefore declined.