Speaker’s Rulings — Reply to Written Question—Unparliamentary Remark

Members, it has come to my attention that the reply to written question No. 38016 from the Minister of Health contained an unparliamentary remark directed at Dr Shane Reti. Replies to questions must not contain discreditable references to members or offensive or unparliamentary expressions—Standing Order 396(3). This is not the first reply from the Minister to contain such a remark. As a result, I intend to award Dr Reti five additional supplementary questions to ask of the Minister of Health this week.

If any other further such replies to written questions come to my attention, I will award a larger number of supplementary questions to the National Party to ask of any Minister. A written answer is primarily a matter between the Minister and the member. Where a member considers an answer inadequate or when overdue, I expect the member to follow up with the Minister in the first instance. However, I intend to continue my predecessor’s practice where an answer contains unparliamentary language. In that case, I will intervene as soon as it comes to my attention, because it is not fair to expect a member to try and obtain a reasonable answer in such circumstances.