Business Statement

Next week in the House priority will be given to the remaining stages of the Appropriation (Continuation of Interim Meaning of Funding for Parliamentary Purposes) Bill, the Building Amendment Bill, the Education (Tertiary Reforms) Amendment Bill, and the Human Tissue Bill.

I wonder whether I could turn the Leader of the House’s attention to item 17 on the Order Paper—an old favourite of mine—the Conservation (Protection of Trout as a Non-commercial Species) Amendment Bill. I note that this bill was introduced on 12 November 1998. On Monday of next week it will have been 9 years on the Order Paper. So I wonder whether the Government has any plans to advance that bill, or is it just one of those bills like so many others that sit there, not able to progress because the numbers are not quite right yet?

No, the Government is not riven with either indecision or divisions on this particular matter. I thank the member for reminding me that this bill was introduced by a National Government. I had actually forgotten that fact. So it is a blue trout rather than a red one. I am advised that the trout are still safely non-commercial, and the bill does not need to proceed at this point.

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I just want to correct the Leader of the House. I think, from memory, that this particular bill, the Conservation (Protection of Trout as a Non-commercial Species) Amendment Bill, was actually introduced as a member’s bill by the Hon Mark Burton, and then taken over as a Government bill by the Labour Government.

I am obliged to the member for correcting me and reminding me that that splendid member the Hon Mark Burton is actually responsible for saving the trout—as no doubt the constituents of the Taupō electorate will save him at the next election.