Brownlee Gerry: Ministerial Statements — Taser Guns—Introduction 
Brownlee Gerry: Ministerial Statements — Taser Guns—Introduction 
[Volume:649;Page:17974] 
GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam) 
: 
 Was that not fascinating? Parliament suspends its business today of all days to hear that the Commissioner of Police has made a decision in principle but that he is not sure. He has made a decision in principle but he is not quite sure whether to go ahead with it. We have had ministerial statements in the past on 9/11. That was serious. We have had ministerial statements on the death of soldiers in East Timor. They were serious occasions. We have had other statements in the House although very very few on matters of similar significance. We do not get ministerial statements on the closure of hospitals on the closure of schools or for that matter on the massive purchase of New Zealand rail. There were no ministerial statements about that at all. But today we suspend the business of the House to be informed that the Commissioner of Police has made up his mind but that he is not sure. 
One has to ask whether this is a fair use of the Standing Orders provisions in this House. Further it raises the question of what the necessity is of the House getting this information today as opposed to tomorrow or some time next week. What is it that is so important about this piece of information? I think it is to tell MPs to watch their in-trays because there is a letter coming from the Commissioner of Police and he wants an urgent response from them so that he can make up his mind—having already made up his mind—and be certain about what he has done. Well I think that actually invites scorn being poured on a Commissioner of Police who does not deserve it. This man has had this report sitting in front of him for 9 months and he has had a total time of 17-months where there was a trial of the particular Tasers in use. 
I doubt that there is anyone of any sort of sensitivity in this House who would turn down the commissioner’s decision but even if they do it is still his decision and not a decision for this House. How many times has Annette King stood up in question time and said: “The decision about Tasers is not mine; it belongs to the Police Commissioner.”? She has said it over and over as she uses the protection of the Standing Orders to fail to give the public of this country any idea as to whether the Government supports Tasers. Then today of all days she comes into the House and says: “Well the Police Commissioner has made a decision in favour but we want to let you know that he’s not going to go ahead until he checks it up with every MP in the House.” Well I wonder whether they want to shorten up this process so that the Taser is available for Winston later in the week. I am not sure but I think the two are connected. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. 
GERRY BROWNLEE 
: I withdraw and apologise. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: The member has withdrawn and apologised. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: He has not heard my point of order yet. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Does the member have a different point of order or not? 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Well I have not said it yet. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: No. The member anticipated it by withdrawing and apologising. I suggest the member accepts that and is seated. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Thank you very much. 
GERRY BROWNLEE 
: I should have recognised him as the Rt Hon Winston Peters Minister in the Labour-led Government—a man of high integrity and a man who will give all the answers that we need later today I am sure. 
All I can say in conclusion is that this is some sort of a ploy on the part of the Government to prolong today’s proceedings—exactly what for is anyone’s guess. But there is no need for the House to be informed of this in this style today. We have had 9 years of Government where there have been no more than five ministerial statements to the House yet here today the Government is prepared to sacrifice the poor old Commissioner of Police and make him look like a complete turkey by being unable to make up his own mind.