Business Statement

Next week the House will go into a 1-week adjournment. When the House resumes, priority will be given to the remaining stages of the Families Commission Bill, the first reading of the Maori Fisheries Bill, and probably further progress of the Radio New Zealand Amendment Bill and the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Bill. Wednesday will be a members’ day.

I understand from talks around the traps that there is a proposal to set up a special select committee to deal with controversial legislation that the Government is proposing in the next short while. I wonder whether the Leader of the House might give us an indication of what legislation will go to that committee, what the committee’s make-up will be, and when those pieces of legislation are likely to be forwarded to that special select committee?

Yes, it is intended to set up a special select committee, whose membership will be determined in accordance with party proportionality and by each party’s own party whips and leadership. So there will be four Labour members, two National members, and one each from the other minor parties. Initially, it is intended that the fisheries legislation will go to that select committee, but it is probable that we will seek to send also foreshore and seabed legislation and aquaculture legislation. The fisheries legislation, as I say, is intended to go through its first reading on Thursday of the next sitting week. The other legislation can be anticipated early in the new year.