Business Statement

Next Tuesday in the House priority will be given to the report of the Standing Orders Committee and the completion of the Holidays Bill. It is also the Government’s intention to take the first readings of the Public Finance (State Sector Management) Bill and the Statutes Amendment Bill (No 4), as these bills are relatively non-controversial. The House will then proceed to the adjournment motion.

I wonder whether the Leader of the House could tell us why we are not seeing seabed and foreshore legislation brought into the House while the House is sitting next week. We in the Opposition are concerned that an announcement will be made by the Government after the House has sat. I wonder, if there is an announcement that leads to legislation, to clarify the position for all New Zealanders the Leader of the House would consider bringing us back, perhaps next Thursday, for a 1-day debate on that particular decision?

Perhaps Thursday week would be even more suitable, if the member would like to come back that day. As he is probably aware, the Government has given an undertaking to the Waitangi Tribunal that a bill would not be introduced before the first week in March as part of the process for the tribunal’s consideration of the Government’s proposals.