Urgent Debates Declined — State-owned Energy Companies, Shares—Loyalty Bonus Scheme for Mighty River Power

I have received a letter from the Hon Clayton Cosgrove seeking to debate under Standing Order 386 the Government’s decision to offer loyalty bonus shares to New Zealanders buying shares in Mighty River Power. This is a case of recent occurrence involving ministerial responsibility. However, not every Government announcement will warrant an urgent debate. There must be an element of urgency for the matter to take precedence over other business. Details of the loyalty bonus offer are to be announced closer to the time of the Mighty River Power share offer. The Government is still working through those details. In these circumstances I am not persuaded that the setting aside of the House’s business for an urgent debate today can be justified. The application is therefore declined.