Urgent Debates Declined — Defence Force—Defence White Paper 2016

I have received a letter from Ron Mark seeking to debate under Standing Order 389 the release of the New Zealand defence white paper today. The release of the paper is a particular case of recent occurrence and involving ministerial responsibility. The more difficult test is whether the release of the white paper requires the urgent attention of the House, and whether there are other parliamentary means of debating the subject. The white paper sets out a 15-year spending plan. Select committees are currently carrying out the examination of estimates and they will subsequently be debated in this House. This provides an opportunity to debate the Government spending in relation to defence. Given the duration of the plan set out in the white paper, there will also be ample ongoing opportunities to scrutinise it. I am not convinced that the release of the white paper has such an element of urgency that it warrants the setting aside of the normal business of the House. The application is therefore declined.