Speaker’s Statements — Motions—Scope

Before we come to the next member—and it’s reflecting on the motion that we have just passed, and the series of motions that we’ve passed this week across a variety of topics—there have been at least two decisions of the Business Committee to tighten up in this area, and, frankly, I think that 124th anniversaries of receiving the assent to particular bills and 70th anniversaries, not in recognition of a country but a UN resolution on a particular issue at the United Nations, do not come within what I would consider to be the tight definitions expected by the Business Committee, even for non-debatable motions.

I want to thank the member who is supporting me, even though he shouldn’t be at this time, and I just want to indicate that if we get many more like this—and I will give this example to the Minister for Sport and Recreation: we had a motion for the Black Ferns for winning the Rugby World Cup; that may or may not have been within the rules. Having something a week or so later because they win an award is not, in my view, a good use of the House’s time. I’m just giving notice that even if no other member objects, I may.