Urgent Debates Declined

Mr SPEAKER Link to this

I have received a letter from Charles Chauvel seeking to debate under Standing Order 380 the Government’s proposed changes to New Zealand’s emissions trading scheme. This is a particular case of recent occurrence involving Ministerial responsibility. The Government has announced its intention to revise the emissions trading scheme and to announce features of a revised scheme that will require amendments to the existing legislation. This is an important announcement, but in considering whether a matter requires the urgent attention of the House, it is relevant to consider whether the matter proposed to be discussed must come before the House reasonably soon in the form of legislation. The Government has announced that it intends to introduce a bill next week and for it to be passed before the end of the year. The consideration of this legislation will provide the opportunity to debate the proposed changes to the emissions trading scheme. In these circumstances, I am not persuaded that the business of the House should be set aside today. The matter is one that can be considered over a longer time frame. The application is, therefore, declined.