Urgent Debates Declined — GCSB, Review of Compliance—Investigation into Leak and Release of Data

I have received letters from Dr Russel Norman and Grant Robertson seeking to debate under Standing Order 386 the receipt by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet of emails between the Hon Peter Dunne and Andrea Vance and the withholding of knowledge of their receipt from the Prime Minister for weeks. This is a particular case of recent occurrence involving ministerial responsibility. However, I have also received a letter from David Shearer seeking to debate the Government’s response to Fonterra’s announcement that bacteria that could cause botulism has been found in some of its products. This too is a particular case of recent occurrence involving the administrative responsibility of the Government.

Where more than one application is received that meets this test, the Speaker considers the importance of the matters raised and decides which, in his opinion, is more important. The matter raised by Dr Norman and Mr Robertson touches on issues that may well be considered during the Privileges Committee inquiry into the use of intrusive powers within the parliamentary precinct. The report will be debated by the House in due course. There are now the avenues for which to pursue this matter, and these applications are therefore declined.