Business Statement

Next week in the House priority will be given to the completion of the Committee stage of the Electoral Finance Bill, the third reading of the Education (Tertiary Reforms) Amendment Bill, the remaining stages of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Business Taxation, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Bill and the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill (No 2), and a range of first readings.

Noting that next Wednesday is a members’ day, does the Leader of the House expect that we will, in fact, be having our members’ day next Wednesday, and given also that the published parliamentary calendar shows a concluding date somewhere in the week ahead, can he indicate whether the business of the House will flow into the week following, with a conclusion of business about 20 December?

I presume to correct the member: the published parliamentary calendar shows the last session of this year starting on Tuesday, 4 December; it did not mention any finishing date. The assumption is, of course, that Tuesday, 25 December could not be a sitting day, though that is not in fact prevented, I think, by the Standing Orders. I think it is almost inevitable that we shall run into the third week of the session. I cannot tell members what day we might finish, in that regard. I look forward to all members having a cheerful Christmas week in front of that. Whether there is a members’ day next week, we shall see.