Urgent Debates Declined — Skycity, Convention Centre—Report of Deputy Auditor-General into Expressions of Interest Process

Would some honourable member care to move that the House take note of miscellaneous business?

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I apologise to members, but I think there was an urgent debate you might have to rule on.

I do apologise, Mr Mallard. I have received a letter from Grant Robertson seeking to debate under Standing Order 386 the report from the Deputy Controller and Auditor-General on the Skycity convention centre. The release of the report is a matter of recent occurrence. As an Auditor-General’s report there is no ministerial responsibility for the report itself, though I do accept that it deals with matters involving ministerial responsibility.

The test for whether a particular case requires the immediate attention of the House is a high one. The report finds no evidence that the final decision to negotiate with Skycity was influenced by any inappropriate consideration, but it raises some process concerns. There must be an element of urgency for a matter to take precedence over other business. Working through the concerns raised may take some time. The purpose of an urgent debate is to hold the Government accountable for its decisions. The Government is accountable for the concerns raised, but this is an ongoing matter. To warrant an urgent debate being held, there must be a new situation or decision of importance in itself. Good practice for public sector purchasing is important to public confidence and our system of government, but I am not convinced that the matters have reached the point where I would be justified in setting aside the business of the House today. There are other occasions on which this matter can be debated. The application is therefore declined.