Urgent Debates Declined — COVID-19 Outbreak—Alert Levels, Social Gatherings Rules Breach

I have received a letter from David Seymour seeking to debate under Standing Order 389 the breach of alert level 2 rules on social gatherings at yesterday’s protest in Aotea Square in Auckland. For there to be an urgent debate there must be administrative or ministerial responsibility for the case of recent occurrence. The concept of ministerial responsibility for a matter qualifying for an urgent debate is narrower than it is in respect of questions for oral answer, which encompass any matter relating to public affairs with which the Minister has an official connection. An urgent debate is a way of holding the Government accountable for an action for which it is responsible. There must be distinct governmental responsibility for the particular case which is sought to be debated—Speaker’s rulings 191/3. There is no governmental responsibility for the protest in Aotea Square yesterday. Therefore, the application is declined.