CHARLES CHAUVEL (Labour) Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Yesterday the Minister for Climate Change Issues sought and was granted leave to table a document in the House, which he described as a document from Treasury analysing the costs and benefits of the emissions trading scheme. I wonder whether you would like to ask the Minister whether he would like to correct the description of the document that he tabled.
Mr SPEAKERNo. A member cannot litigate that kind of thing by way of a point of order. That is nothing to do with the order of the House right now. The document is now on the Table and members can make their own conclusions about that document.
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for Climate Change Issues) Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. For the member’s benefit, I note that the numbers were prepared by Treasury and the piece of paper was produced by the Ministry for the Environment.
I do not believe that we need to take this matter further. As I understand the situation, leave was sought to table a certain document. On the face of it the document that was tabled appeared to be consistent with that leave. In terms of the detail of it, I cannot be the judge of that. The important thing is that it appeared to be consistent with the leave that was granted. I do not think the House should take further time on it now.
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour—Hutt South) Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I have heard what you have just said. Leave was sought to table a complete document, not a page from a document. It is very clear from what was tabled that the document is not a complete document, as well as not being a Treasury document. To be fair, I accept the member’s word, if in fact it said in the document, which has not all been tabled, that the figures were prepared by Treasury as opposed to the ministry. One cannot tell that on the face of it. If the member had done as he said he would do and tabled the whole document, it would be clear to all of us.