Urgency

I move, That urgency be accorded the passing through their remaining stages of the Taxation (Annual Rates and Urgent Measures) Bill and the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Approvals and Enforcement) Amendment Bill, and of any bills into which those bills may be divided; the introduction and passing of the Biosecurity (Status of Specified Ports) Amendment Bill; the passing through their remaining stages of the Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill and the Veterinarians Bill; and the first readings of the Sports Anti-Doping Bill, the Immigration Advisers Licensing Bill, the Standards and Conformance Bill, the Geographical Indications (Wine and Spirits) Registration Bill, the Housing Restructuring and Tenancy Matters (Information Matching) Amendment Bill, and the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Bill. This motion is moved in order that a number of bills can be completed for legal or administrative reasons before the House rises for the Christmas adjournment; also, in order that a number of other bills can be referred to select committees.

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. When will the Biosecurity (Status of Specified Ports) Amendment Bill be made available to the House?

That bill will be made available not long before we get to its introduction and first reading. I will be happy to arrange, if need be, for copies to be made available to the various party spokespeople, and for them to talk to officials about the bill.

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. This is a technical matter that you might be able to instruct us on. We understand that a decision is pending on the Tauranga case—relating to the electoral petition there—that would be reported to the House. Does the taking of urgency today prevent the House from receiving that information?

I thank the member for that point. The decision could be tabled, but only with the leave of the House. Certainly, I would seek the leave of the House to do that if it becomes available, but obviously I do not know when that will be. Did Mr Tisch have another point of order? I think that the Minister, in his reply relating to the Biosecurity (Status of Specified Ports) Amendment Bill, said that it must be tabled before its first reading.