Following Cullen’s lead
December 11th, 2008 at 11:31 am by David FarrarI blogged this morning my concern that bills under urgency were not being made available to MPs at the first available opportunity, and that the rules should be changed, if they were preventing this.
It does seem perverse that the House votes urgency on bills before they are tabled, but Graeme Edgeler at Public Address supplies this transcript from Hansard:
Appropriation (Parliamentary Expenditure Validation) Bill
First ReadingHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Minister of Finance): I move, That the Appropriation (Parliamentary Expenditure Validation) Bill be now read a first time.
Dr Richard Worth: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Would it not be appropriate for us to see this bill?
Madam SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. [Interruption] The bill is on the Table.
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN: Speaking to the point of order, I say that a copy of this bill was made available to National Party members this morning before their caucus.
Gerry Brownlee: The bill was delivered to us halfway through our caucus this morning. One copy was given to me, and another copy was given to Dr Brash. There are only two copies on this side of the Table, and they were brought into the House just as Dr Cullen was about to speak. This debate should not progress until there are sufficient copies on the Table for every member to have an opportunity to read it.
Madam SPEAKER: I understand that copies of the bill are available for members on the Table.
Gerry Brownlee: I seek leave for the House to adjourn for 20 minutes while the bill is distributed.
Madam SPEAKER: Leave is sought. Is there any objection? Yes, there is. [Interruption] Members, please, we will preserve a little bit of respect and decorum.
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN: Of course, when bills are moved for introduction and passing under urgency, they are tabled subsequent to the motion being approved.
So rather rich for Dr Cullen to be complaining, when he himself cited the procedure he is now complaining about.
Tags: Gerry Brownlee, Michael Cullen, Parliament, urgency
December 11th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Hoist by his own petard. Could not happen to a more deserving creature IMHO.
Vote:December 11th, 2008 at 11:41 am
It goes both way of course, DPF.
Why was National complaining about a bill not being available in the past, when just yesterday it was doing exactly the same thing it complained about only a couple of years ago?!
[DPF: It is possible in National's case that the bills had not actually been written! But I made clear twice that I disapprove of National not making them available earlier]
Vote:December 11th, 2008 at 11:46 am
I took 9 years for Labour to become arrogant and out of touch. National didn’t even take 9 weeks. I guess that’s the sort of efficiency you learn in the public sector.
Vote:December 11th, 2008 at 11:56 am
So two copies were given to National but Gerry couldnt operate the photocopier.
Its great that hes in charge of energy policy when he lacks any himself
Vote:December 11th, 2008 at 11:57 am
“Why was National complaining about a bill not being available in the past, when just yesterday it was doing exactly the same thing”
I guess one is a hypocrite and the other one is just following a precedent
Vote:December 11th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
The bill named WAS available BEFORE the debate started, yesterday it wasnt
Vote:December 11th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Graeme, DPF has asked for a law change so the bills can be made available. And put up on a website so we can all have a look.
Vote:December 11th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Look fuck Cullen, the snivling little cunt has been fucking us over for a decade now his his turn to STFU and take it!
And thats me off for the day because I’ve had more than enough for Labour. Whats the point in kicking their asses if they they don’t piss off when they’ve been fired anyway.
Pete don’t miss out on your slkice of fuck off pie either.
[DPF: And 20 demerits for the C word]
Vote:December 11th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
berend – yes he has – my point was mostly against National, not DPF.
However no law change is required, and National is permitted to just release its draft bills.
Vote:December 11th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
“[DPF: And 20 demerits for the C word]
You are so over the top with demerits DPF. All he said was ‘Cullen’.
Vote:December 11th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
I heard Cullen on National Socialist Radio at lunch time.
Vote:I believe that he sounded like an intelligent reasonable gentleman. That sickening supercilious smug attitude has gone. That compulsive habit of putting people down has gone. It is unfair nowadays, as I have done so much in the past, to refer to him as Sullen Cullen.
The change is incredible.
December 11th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
“You are so over the top with demerits DPF. All he said was ‘Cullen’.”
Heh.
Vote:December 11th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Just because Cullen did it, doesn’t mean it is right.
FFS why can’t our team do it better and more sneakily?
Vote:December 11th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
““[DPF: And 20 demerits for the C word]
You are so over the top with demerits DPF. All he said was ‘Cullen’.”
But as we all know c***s are useful. Cullen is of course useless so deserves 20 demerits.
Vote:December 11th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Madam Speaker??
Has Lockwood had a sex change or is Labour lackey Wilson still in charge of the madhouse?
Vote:December 12th, 2008 at 9:10 am
The “change” is a decade too late Notts. Ask the Maori party how they like being treated by National for a start.
I applogise to all cunts for comparing them to the C word.
I wouldn’t put Wilson in charge of a shithouse. Even though shes had experience in the roll.
Vote: