Urgent Debates Declined — Defence Force—Afghan Civilian Deaths Allegations

I have received a letter from Dr Kennedy Graham seeking to debate under Standing Order 389 the decision by the Prime Minister not to order an inquiry into the raid carried out by New Zealand SAS troops in Afghanistan in 2010. An urgent debate is a way of holding the Government to account for a particular case of recent occurrence for which it is responsible. There have been many rulings by previous Speakers that the absence of an action on the part of a Government is not a particular case of recent occurrence. I refer members to Speaker’s ruling 212/2. I also restate my ruling on Metiria Turei’s application for an urgent debate on 22 March that allegations can never constitute a particular case of recent occurrence. I refer members again to Speakers’ rulings 212/3 and 212/4. The application is therefore declined.