Motions — Confidence Motion—Government 
Motions — Confidence Motion—Government 
[Volume:617;Page:12539] 
Motions 
Confidence Motion—Government 
Dr DON BRASH (Leader of the Opposition) 
: 
 Noting the growing instability in the Government I seek leave of the House to move a motion of no confidence forthwith. 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Could I check whether that is a non-debatable motion? 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Yes. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought. Is there any objection? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: Is it non-debatable? [ 
Interruption 
] It is debatable. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member did not ask for it to be non-debatable. Leave is sought. Is there any objection? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: Yes if the motion is debatable. Is it non-debatable? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No it is debatable. 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: It is debatable. Yes there is objection. If the member wishes to move a non-debatable motion it is perfectly acceptable to do so. 
Dr Don Brash 
: Yes it is a non-debatable motion. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member did not say that. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Well he’s saying it now. [ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: There is far too much interjection. While I am on my feet there will be none. The member has had his only warning for the day about interjecting while I am on my feet. He will be out next time. That is the only warning. The member asked for leave; leave was denied. 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The reason I asked whether the motion was debatable was that the member moved the motion in a form whereby it was debatable and the Government does object to that. But if the member wishes to seek leave to move a non-debatable motion I am sure nobody in the Government will object. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Does the member wish to do that? 
Dr Don Brash 
: I do. I seek the leave of the House— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Is there any objection? There is not. 
Dr DON BRASH (Leader of the Opposition) 
: 
 I move  
That this House has no confidence in the Government. 
A party vote was called for on the question that the motion be agreed to. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I call the honourable Tariana Turia. 
Donna Awatere Huata 
: Point of order Mr Speaker. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I have actually called another member. I will hear the member shortly. 
TARIANA TURIA (Labour—Te Tai Hauauru) 
: 
 One vote opposed. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: For the benefit of members if Tariana Turia is voting the way she has proposed the Labour Party should have called 52 not 51. Is 52 the call? Right. 
DONNA AWATERE HUATA (Independent) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I was not aware of what the vote was on. I seek your indulgence to let me know what the vote is on so that I can vote accordingly. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: It is a vote of no confidence in the Government. Is the vote for or against? 
DONNA AWATERE HUATA 
: 
 In favour. 
A party vote was called for on the question  
That the motion be agreed to. 
Ayes 58 
New Zealand National 27; New Zealand First 13; Green Party 9; ACT New Zealand 8; Independent: Awatere Huata. 
Noes 62 
New Zealand Labour 52; United Future 8; Progressive 2. 
Motion not agreed to. 
GERRY BROWNLEE (Deputy Leader—National) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I noticed during the taking of that vote that you took some advice from the Clerk and then required the Labour Party to change its vote from 51 to 52. Are we to take it that for parliamentary purposes—a mechanism used in the past in a previous term of Parliament—Tariana Turia remains a member of the Labour Party at this point? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I have had no advice in writing that she is not.