Thursday 26th Aug 1999
Richard Prebble
Media Release -- Social Welfare

ACT MP Patricia Schnauer tonight said Brian Donnelly should get his facts right. Mrs Schnauer was responding to Mr Donnelly's accusation that she had "cynically stopped debate and blocked " his question.

Firstly, it was the Speaker who denied Mr Donnelly the opportunity to put his question.

Secondly, leave was sought for Mr Donnelly to ask his question. It was denied by myself and others. I was not alone.

Thirdly, anyone who denied leave in effect supported the Speaker's initial ruling.

Fourthly, to allow additional questions prejudices the position of other members to ask questions later in question time.

"If Mr Donnelly wants to ask a question on Northland unemployment in the House he has the opportunity every question time to do so."

"Mr Donnelly's concern about high unemployment rate in Northland comes over three weeks after the alarming figures were released in the Household Labour force survey."

"In the time it's taken Mr Donnelly just to think about asking a question ACT has already met with WINZ Northland Commissioner Sharon Brownie to work through programmes for getting Northlanders into the real jobs they need," said Patricia Schnauer.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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