Gambling Amendment Bill (No 2)

When the Committee last considered this bill, the Committee had given leave for all provisions to be taken as one question. Well, the question then is—

💬 Chris Hipkins: Mr Chair.

The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch): I call Chris Hipkins.

I was waiting for you to say who it was who was still speaking when the bill was last debated, but as it appears that nobody was speaking during that time I am very happy to take a call on the Gambling Amendment Bill (No 2), because, I think, this highlights the absolute incompetence of the current Government that this legislation is taking such a long time to progress through the House. In fact, there are now two gambling amendment bills before the House, because the Government was so incompetent—

💬 Hon Member: Three.

Three are there? There is a third one, because the Government was so incompetent in progressing this legislation. In fact, one of these bills dates well back, prior to the existing National Government even coming into office, and it still has Rick Barker’s name on it, such is the incompetence of the current National Government and its inability to progress this legislation.

The gambling amendment bills, all of them, deal with relatively technical amendments to the Gambling Act, a very technical piece of legislation but one that is very important none the less, and I am looking forward to a lengthy and drawn out and significant debate on the provisions of the Gambling Amendment Bill (No 2) when we next come to it.

Progress to be reported presently.

House resumed.

The Chairperson reported the Crimes (Match-fixing) Amendment Bill without amendment, the Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Bill with amendment, the Parole (Extended Supervision Orders) Amendment Bill with amendment, the Education Amendment Bill (No 2) with amendment, and progress on the Gambling Amendment Bill (No 2).

Report adopted.

The House adjourned at 9.57 p.m.