Urgent Debates Declined — Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry—Investigation into Leaked Cabinet Papers Relating to Proposed Changes

I have received a letter from the Hon Phil Goff seeking to debate under Standing Order 386 the involvement of the Minister of Trade in the inquiry into the leak of a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Cabinet paper. An urgent debate cannot be granted on the basis of newspaper speculation. A case of recent occurrence occurs when a decision is publicly announced by the Government. The inquiry is ongoing. The accumulation of information in regard to an issue is not itself a particular case of recent occurrence, nor does it require the immediate attention of the House. The application is therefore declined.