Points of Order — Tabling of Documents—Petition to Not Allow Retail Trading on Easter Sunday

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I seek leave of the House to table a petition to protect Easter Sunday, signed by members of the Pacific sector community in Auckland, asking that we respectfully request that National MPs are given a free vote on the issue of Easter Sunday trading.

There is a way in which petitions are presented to this Parliament, and on this occasion there have been no petitions for me to announce. If the member—[Interruption] Order! I am just speaking, if I may. If there is a petition to be presented there is a very standardised way for that to happen, and then it will get due recognition in this Parliament.

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. In respect of the petition that my colleague Su’a William Sio has sought leave to table, it is, I understand, addressed to members of the National Party rather than to the House of Representatives. Therefore, it is not—[Interruption]

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Order! This is a point of order. [Interruption] Order! Mr Brownlee.

Therefore, it is not a petition that would be tabled through the normal procedures for tabling a petition to the House of Representatives. My colleague seeks leave to table it for the information of the House, not to table it as a petition to the House of Representatives.

I will hear from the Hon Gerry Brownlee.

This is one of those interesting situations where a procedure of Parliament is being used for the purpose of political grandstanding. [Interruption] Well, I mean, it is a fact. I feel that I need to tell Mr Sio that he can print that off, can put it in a number of envelopes with members’ names on them, and can put a “D” in the top corner with a circle around it, and it will make its way to the members. Or—

Order! [Interruption] Order! I have heard enough. [Interruption] Order! Members seek leave to table papers as a means of informing members. On this occasion, I said I would not put the leave, and I think the member has had a significant opportunity in the exchange of points of order for members now to be well informed of the content. We will move on.