Urgent Debates Declined — Earthquake, Christchurch—Review of Civil Defence Emergency Management Response

Honourable members, I have received five letters seeking urgent debates under Standing Order 386. The first is from Phil Twyford seeking to debate the mothballing of the KiwiRail line between Napier and Gisborne. This is a particular case of recent occurrence involving ministerial responsibility of the Government. However, the business of the House should not be set aside just because an announcement has been made. There will be other occasions on which this matter can be debated. Members may raise such matters of concern to them during the general debate. That application is therefore declined.

The second application is from David Shearer, the Leader of the Opposition, seeking to debate further revelations about the unlawful interception of communications of certain individuals by the Government Communications Security Bureau and the Prime Minister’s knowledge of such events occurring. A proposal to discuss a continuing problem such as this is not one contemplated by Standing Order 386 as a particular case of recent occurrence. Furthermore, the House has recently considered the matter. An urgent debate was held immediately before the adjournment on 27 September. Every subsequent press release on the matter will not necessarily require the immediate attention of the House. That application is therefore also declined.

The third application is from the Hon Lianne Dalziel seeking to debate the Government’s decision in response to the recommendations of the independent report commissioned by the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management entitled Review of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Response to the 22 February Christchurch Earthquake. The release of the Government’s decisions is a particular case of recent occurrence involving ministerial responsibility. The test for whether a particular case requires the immediate attention of the House is a high one. The business of the House should not be set aside just because a ministerial announcement has been made, even though it may be important. There must be an element of urgency for the matter to take precedence over other business. A corrective action plan for work programmes over the next 2 years is being developed. I do not think I would be justified in giving priority to this particular issue over other business of the House today. The application is therefore also declined.