Business Statement

Next week in the House the Government will be seeking to make progress on the Police Complaints Authority (Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct) Amendment Bill, the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Bill, the Corrections Bill, the Judicial Matters Bill, and the Forests Amendment Bill. I had indicated to the Business Committee that the first reading of the New Zealand Sign Language Bill will be taken on Thursday, 13 May as the first item of business. That is not now the case, and I will indicate to all other parties, as soon as I can, what the intended date will now be.

I wonder whether the Leader of the House might be able to give us some indication of what has happened to the Civil Union Bill and when we might expect that bill to see the light of day in the House.

It is the Government’s intention to introduce the Civil Union Bill along with the consistency legislation at the same time. That may be done during this May period or it may be done during the June period.