Imprest Supply (First for 2013/14) Bill

I move, That the Imprest Supply (First for 2013/14) Bill be now read a first time.

A party vote was called for on the question that the Imprest Supply (First for 2013/14) Bill be now read a first time.

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. [Interruption]

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson): Order! The member is on his feet.

Are you finding that a member of the Government voted in favour of that motion, because—

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson): I had not quite finished putting the vote, and I heard Mr Henare say yes. [Interruption] Order! Is there a vote called for? There is a vote called for.

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson): We are right in the middle of a vote.

The Hon Tau Henare was warned both by you and by a previous Speaker about showing the bit of paper with a number on it. He was ejected from the House earlier. He has just done it again, in defiance of your ruling.

I picked up my stuff, I went like that, I am out of here. Thank you very much. I mean how—[Interruption]

Order! Order! The member will be seated, please. As I have said—[Interruption] Order! As I have said to the member before, all members are honourable and they are taken at their word. So I am going to ask the member now whether he showed the placard, and, if so, then he will leave the House.

As I have said—[Interruption]

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson): Order! Please continue.

As I picked my material up, I went like that. If the cameras were on me, they will show what I did.

All right—[Interruption] Order! I take the member at his word. If it is otherwise, then the member knows the repercussions of that.

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I think you have got at least three members on this side who will indicate to you that what Mr Henare just told the House is not true. There is a limit to how often you can take a member’s word. We took it last time because I was the only person who saw it. At least three members on this side saw Mr Henare—not once but twice—not point the sign towards him, as he indicated to you, but outwardly to the House. It is vital that we take members’ words in this House. It is the basis on which we work. Tau Henare has given an undertaking that was absolutely incorrect and he has misled the House, I think deliberately. I think there is probably a last chance for him to accept what he has done, to take the immediate punishment, and to apologise both for what he did and for misleading the House, otherwise this matter is going to get pretty rough.

Mr Mallard’s latter point is right. It is vital that we take members at their word. His previous point was quite wrong. There is no limit to which we accept that all members are honourable. Your ruling was correct, and I invite you to uphold it and to move on.

Well, all I can say is this: that a member’s word is taken as it is. That is the right that we have here as freedom of speech. If it is proved otherwise—if the member is proved otherwise, and there are cameras here—then there are repercussions for the member.

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. To reiterate what I said to Mr Mallard, I picked my stuff up from my chair, I went like that—that is right, absolutely—and then I put that on my material the way it is now. If that is a crime in this House, then I think we have sunk pretty low.

Order! Can I just suggest—

You will note that when Mr Henare explained what he did the first time, he held the number towards him. When he explained what he did the second time, he did indicate—only briefly compared with what he actually did—what he did do. He has changed his story between the two points of order, and he effectively pleaded guilty in the second one.

Can I invite the member to withdraw and apologise and leave the Chamber.

Am I being kicked out of the Chamber? For?

I am asking the member to withdraw and apologise and leave the Chamber.

I withdraw and apologise.

Hon Tau Henare withdrew from the Chamber.