Parliamentary Debate

POINT OF ORDER---QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER

POINT OF ORDER---QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER

RODNEY HIDE (ACT NZ): I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Today the Clerk's Office prevented me from asking a question concerning Mr Rana Waitai damaging his hotel room while in Melbourne on parliamentary business. The cost of that damage is being sent to the New Zealand Government to be paid for by the New Zealand taxpayer.

Mr SPEAKER: I do not think the matter is in order.

RODNEY HIDE: Is my point of order to be heard? [Interruption] My understanding was that points of order were to be heard in silence.

Mr SPEAKER: The member sought to ask a question for which there is no ministerial responsibility and, therefore, it was rejected by the Clerk's Office. The member was informed that he could put down, as any member can in the appropriate circumstances, a written question to the Speaker. He must pursue that course.