Business Statement

When the House resumes on Tuesday, 24 July the Government will complete the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill and a number of first readings on the Order Paper, including the Families Commission Amendment Bill and the Companies and Limited Partnerships Amendment Bill. Wednesday is a members’ day. The Business Committee has also determined that the House will take extended hours on Wednesday, 25 July, effective from 9 a.m. on Thursday, 26 July, for the third readings of the Maraeroa A and B Blocks Claims Settlement Bill and the Maraeroa A and B Blocks Incorporation Bill, the Ngai Tāmanuhiri Claims Settlement Bill, the Ngāti Mākino Claims Settlement Bill, and the Rongowhataata Claims Settlement Bill.

Can I ask the Leader of the House two questions: first of all, to confirm that those third readings will run into the afternoon of Thursday next week, as well as the extended Wednesday; and, also, to give an assurance, as far as the following week is concerned, that if we do go on to the liquor legislation, there will be plenty of notice because of the conscience vote nature of it?

Two things. I thank the shadow Leader of the House for those questions. It is a good opportunity to clarify that under the Standing Orders the Government, by agreement with the Business Committee, in this case will call for extended hours on Wednesday, 25 July, because what we are doing is extending the Wednesday into the Thursday. In effect, we will deal with those bills on Thursday morning, running through into the afternoon. There will still be a question time. I will shortly seek leave for the House to sit beyond the 6 o’clock mark, should we require it, to complete those third readings.

On the issue of the alcohol bill, there are a number of points in the bill that will be of interest to members across the House. I think it is desirable that we have a broad discussion at the Business Committee. My proposal is that we will have that discussion next Tuesday—and I will try to get some information to members of the committee prior to that time—when we might get some agreement on how we could satisfy everybody’s requirements around that debate.