Points of Order — Questions for Oral Answer—Amended Answers

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I now want to refer you again to Speaker’s ruling 179/3. I want to make it absolutely clear that I am not making any allegation of breach of privilege here. I am going to take the Prime Minister at his public word last week that he was wrongly advised, and that the errors he made in answering questions in the House were accidents rather than anything that was deliberate. Notwithstanding that, the Standing Orders and Speakers’ rulings make it absolutely clear that when an error has been made in answer to an oral question, there is an obligation on the Minister to correct his answer to the House. I know that you are in a somewhat uncomfortable position yourself because you are not subject to oral questions, and assurances that you gave in the Committee stage are somewhat of a problem to be sorted. But the obligation of the Prime Minister is absolutely clear. He must come to the House and he must correct his answer.

Order! In effect, the member is now re-raising the same point of order a second time but reinforced with a Speaker’s ruling. My ruling still stands. It is a matter now for any Minister—or, in this case, the Prime Minister—to determine whether there is an answer to be corrected. If the member thinks the course of action charted by the Prime Minister or any Minister is unsatisfactory, the member has alternative means to raise the matter.

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Is this a further point of order?

Yes, and it goes to what the alternative methods are. I understand—again, taking the Prime Minister at his word that he was in error in the statements he made last week—that that is not a breach of privilege. Can you inform the House whether in fact it is a matter of privilege not to do a correction in these circumstances? Is that the method you are recommending that I take up?

No, the member can decide what action he wishes to take. If he wishes to write to me to allege a breach of privilege, then I would certainly have a look at that and consider it, as I do any application for a breach of privilege. But I am certainly not going to rule on that matter at this time in front of the House without a formal application from the member.

This question is to the Prime Minister and asks: does he stand by all of the answers given on his behalf to Oral Question No. 5 on 29 May 2013?

I think the member has got the question wrong.

Order! On this occasion, could the member please repeat the question as worded on the Order Paper.

💬 Rt Hon Winston Peters: I made the mistake of using the draft.

Order! We all, on occasion, make mistakes. We do not often expect many from the right honourable member.