Urgent Debates Declined — Social Development—Salvation Army Report

Honourable members, I have received a letter from Jacinda Ardern seeking to debate under Standing Order 386 the release of Striking a Better Balance: A State of the Nation Report from the Salvation Army. For there to be an urgent debate there must be a particular case of recent occurrence that involves the administrative or ministerial responsibility of the Government and that requires the urgent attention of the House. An urgent debate is a way of holding the Government to account for an action for which it is responsible. It must be distinct responsibility for the particular case that is sought to be debated. There is no ministerial responsibility for a report that is released by the Salvation Army. The report undoubtedly addresses issues of importance to which the Government may respond, but the urgent debate procedure is a means of debating matters that have occurred. It is not a means of debating matters that might or might not occur in the future. The application is therefore declined.