It is not good form to go into details of discussions that happen “behind the speakers chair” between leaders of the house and their shadow or between whips.
But what is very obvious is that the Nats are very very scared of having a question time today. We are under urgency debating ACC legislation. We know that in the end we will lose and all we can do in debate and delay. But that has its limits and what normally happens is that a deal is done – questions in and a limit to the length of the debate.
There was a fair deal on the table for the Nats but they have run away from it.
So what are they scared of. Key or English on the differing views on GST. The housing question to credit card Heatley which goes to his priorities for government expenditure. Or Anne Tolley showing her ignorance of her own standards policy again.
But whatever it is they make chickens look courageous.
You’ve sold me, I’m tuning into question time today.
Spud sorry post not clear – nats have blocked question time.
Could there be some polling done tonight and they dont want the TV news having National ‘look’ like the self serving fools they are
DO the oral questions have be listed before the start of business?
Trevor, explain?
Urgency again. So what is the percentage of parliamentary time spent in urgency under this government so far?
@Trev
– Can they do that? Man, they shouldn’t take away your right to ask questions.
@Sean: Grant Robertson posted at http://blog.labour.org.nz/index.php/2009/10/27/urgency-act-vi/ that up to 20 Oct 2009 it was 33%, and gave comparisons with previous Parliaments.
Maybe he can give us an update.
Urgency does that Spud but it is not a good look – makes it look like the government is trying to hide something and thats why deals are just about always done.
And the questions do have to be listed and that is always part of the leave arrangement to have questions, Darren Hughes asked for leave and the Nats turned him down. Looks like a Tegel plant here, heads down.
Thanks for the link Phil, as I recall that post went up shortly after the current government had used more urgency hours in one year than in the entire 2005-2008 period.
An update would be great Grant(if you are reading), my gut feeling is that the percentage of time under urgency will have increased, but I wouldn’t mind accurate figures.
Seriously Trevor, is there nothing a Speaker can do to halt this level of non-debate?
However in spite of the amount of urgency over the past 15 months since National won the election I understand that question time has rarely been cut. Certainly I remember Labour often cutting question time when under urgency. Can anyone provide details on the number of times urgency has meant no question time under each government?
Shame – Question time is the best entertainment in town.
Phew I wouldn’t want questions either if I had to face Lianne Dalziel when she was in the mood she was as she just ripped Garrett during the Children, Young Persons and Their Families debate… Pwned…
Breaking News – The Prime Minister has stood down Phil Heatley. Good to see the PM is holding his Ministers to account – the details as to why will be most interesting.
Just in case the readers have not worked it out yet….. They don’t like question time …because they dont like the bl$%dy questions ok..! So ask something they may like to share like…er..Who did Phill buy the wine for and where was it shared..?
Yes ,yes I know they will recoil in horror!.. but that’s when you ask the questions you really want an answer to..
Hey Trevor… A slippery Avatar there matey…back in the day.? Come on mate I’ll show you mine if you show me yours..!