Urgent Debates Declined — Government Communications Security Bureau—Inquiry into Unlawful Interception of Communications

Honourable members—[Interruption] Order! What is wrong with certain members on the National backbench there? Honourable members, I have received a letter from David Shearer seeking to debate under Standing Order 386 the Prime Minister’s announcement that he has requested an inquiry by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security into the circumstances of unlawful interception of communications of certain individuals by the Government Communications Security Bureau. The announcement is a particular case of recent occurrence involving ministerial responsibility. The big hurdle to get over in applications for urgent debate is whether the matter has reached the stage where the business of the House ought to be set aside. The test is a high one. There must be an element of urgency or substantive policy change for the matter to take precedence over other business. Although the announcement of an inquiry may warrant an urgent debate, the circumstances must be exceptional, especially where the inquiry may take some time to finalise.

Furthermore, at the current time there is also a risk of a breach of the rule against referring to matters pending adjudication in the courts. For these reasons, I am not persuaded that the setting aside of the business of the House for an urgent debate can be justified today. The application is therefore declined.