Larry Williams Drive

The National Party tried to get an additional Question Time and an additional debate scheduled for this week using a cryptic motion at the end of Question Time on Tuesday. The motion could be big news for newly independent MP Gaurav Sharma who could be given time to speak in the House under privilege, allowing him to speak about his former Labour colleagues without fear of defamation. Sharma was expelled from Labour's caucus this morning. The motion is believed to be related to Speaker Trevor Mallard's widely understood announcement to leave the Speaker's chair on Wednesday. Mallard has already announced he will retire from the role of Speaker, and from Parliament altogether. He will go to an ambassadorial post in Europe, which is widely understood to be Ireland. He was widely believed to be scheduled to leave the role this week - a decision unrelated to the Sharma fiasco. This will be followed by the election of current Deputy Speaker Adrian Rurawhe to the role of Speaker. Under Standing Orders, the rules th