Urgent Debates Declined — ACC—Privacy Protections

I have received a letter from Jan Logie seeking to debate under Standing Order 399 the privacy protections of ACC in light of revelations that ACC staff have shared clients’ details in a private social media group. A proposal to discuss a continuing problem or an accumulation of information is not one contemplated by Standing Order 399 in that it is not a particular case of recent occurrence—Speakers’ rulings 204/4-5 refer. The privacy protections of ACC appear to me to fall into this category in that they are an ongoing matter.

An urgent debate is a means by which the actions of a Government are examined. To date, the Government has not made any announcements in relation to the matter raised in the application—Speakers’ ruling 205/5 refers. The only action announced to date has been the ACC standing down 12 staff and beginning an investigation. It would not be appropriate to debate a staffing matter, which is a responsibility of the chief executive, in this House. The application is, therefore, declined.

Should the Government announce some further action in relation to the matter, I would consider a further application from the member.