Urgent Debates Declined — Child Poverty Monitor Report—Government Response

I have received a letter from Jacinda Ardern seeking to debate under Standing Order 386 the release of the New Zealand Child Poverty Monitor report and the Government’s response to it. The release of the report is a particular case of recent occurrence and there is ministerial responsibility for any Government response, as the report deals with matters involving ministerial responsibility. The results show that the rate of child poverty has increased over the last 30 years. For there to be an urgent debate, there needs to be a new development in an existing situation of significant importance in itself to warrant a debate being held. The test is a high one. The Government is taking a strategic approach to complex social issues and its initiatives will unfold over a period of years. I am not convinced that the release of this first Child Poverty Monitor in itself warrants the setting aside of the House’s business today. The application is therefore declined.