Business Statement

When the House resumes on Tuesday, 25 September, the Government will look to pass the National War Memorial Park (Pukeahu) Empowering Bill and the Customs and Excise (Tobacco Products—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill. The Government also intends to progress the Lawyers and Conveyancers Amendment Bill, the International Finance Agreements Amendment Bill, and the first reading of the Crown Minerals (Permitting and Crown Land) Bill.

Is the Leader of the House yet in a position to share with us the likely dates for the liquor legislation, the Alcohol Reform Bill, including the cut-off date for substantive amendments, and whether or not he has been able to reach an agreement with the Minister in charge of the bill as to whether we will have a logically ordered debate or whether it is just going to be a free-for-all?

Well, working backwards, the Minister in charge of the bill, of course, was in a former role a lawyer, so naturally likes order to be something that is to the fore in these matters, and that would be the desire of the Government and, I believe, the House as a whole. What is intended is that the bill would likely come back into the House around 23 October for dealing with the Committee stage. I think there has been a request that the out-of-scope amendments be put in place by today, and the Business Committee will have further consideration next week of all of the matters that would lead to a very ordered process around a bill that now has had perhaps its most controversial aspect already dealt with by the House.