Urgency

I move, That urgency be accorded the passing through their remaining stages of the Freedom Camping Bill, the Student Loan Scheme Bill, the Taxation (Tax Administration and Remedial Matters) Bill, the Duties of Statutory Officers (Census and Other Remedial Provisions) Bill, the Education Amendment Bill (No 4), the Aquaculture Legislation Amendment Bill (No 3), the Trade Marks (International Treaties and Enforcement) Amendment Bill, the Māori Purposes Bill, the Statutes Amendment Bill (No 2), and the Commerce Commission (International Co-operation, and Fees) Bill, and of any bills into which those bills may be divided, and the introduction and passing of a Government bill.

As noted in the business statement last Thursday, the Government has moved that urgency be accorded to items of business that require timely implementation. As members will know, the supply of House time has been reduced this year, from the normal 30 weeks or so to just 23 weeks, due to factors such as the Rugby World Cup and the general election. Including this week, there are just 5 sitting weeks remaining before the dissolution of the House for the general election. On the demand side, some of the bills in today’s motion require immediate action due to the impending Rugby World Cup, such as the Freedom Camping Bill and the Trade Marks (International Treaties and Enforcement) Amendment Bill.

Other bills require passage as soon as possible to enable implementation to commence in advance of looming deadlines, such as the Student Loan Scheme Bill, which is due to come into force on 1 April 2012 and the Taxation (Tax Administration and Remedial Matters) Bill, which is due to commence on 1 October this year. Similarly, the Education Amendment Bill (No 4) formalises the restructuring of three agencies, one of which is due to be defunct by 1 September 2011.

The Duties of Statutory Officers (Census and Other Remedial Provisions) Bill is a slightly different case. The Government made the decision earlier this year that the census, scheduled for 2011, would not be held due to the disruption caused by the Canterbury earthquakes. By law the Government must hold a census this year, so amending legislation is required to reflect the decision to defer the census. Cabinet subsequently decided that the census should be held in 2013 instead.

The swift passage of the Aquaculture Legislation Amendment Bill (No 3) is desirable to provide much-needed certainty to the industry.

Motion agreed to.