Speaker Gerry Brownlee in the House. Photo: VNP/Phil Smith
The Labour Party says it has lost confidence in the Speaker of the House.
Gerry Brownlee took the rare step of disagreeing with the clerk and the assistant speaker on Tuesday night
He ruled there was no private benefit in an amendment paper that listed projects under the Fast-Track Bill.
Labour's shadow leader of the House Kieran McAnulty said the decision was "unprecedented".
"He failed to reference a single previous ruling and in making his decision has potentially unilaterally changed the rules of Parliament."
McAnulty said it raised serious constitutional questions about the passing of a government bill that provided for private benefit.
Kieran McAnulty speaks to a point of order Photo: VNP/ Louis Collins
"This amendment provides a list of 149 individuals and companies that will benefit from this change. There is a clear process for Private Bills that has not been followed in this case.
"Quite rightly, there is a process that a change that will benefit a company or individual should go through.
"The Private Bill process has previously been used to benefit individuals - such the Paige Harris Birth Registration Bill.
"That bill received unanimous support, as it identified an anomaly in the law that was seen by many across Parliament to be unjust.
"This is a far cry from that. The culmination of the speaker's inability to cite any previous ruling, his decision to ignore the advice of the clerk and presiding officers, and the nature of the amendment to the bill in question has caused Labour to lose confidence in his ability to oversee a functioning, democratic Parliament."
McAnulty said Labour was urging the speaker to reconsider his ruling and the "potential consequences" it could have on Parliament.
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