Urgency

I move, That urgency be accorded the passing through all stages of the National Animal Identification and Tracing Amendment Bill; the committee stage and third reading of the Statutes Amendment Bill (No 2); and the second and third readings of the Tariff (PACER Plus) Amendment Bill.

The urgency motion covers three bills that have, I understand, support across the House, and that all have reasons to be enacted in the current sitting block that are sufficiently strong to warrant the claim for urgency. The National Animal Identification and Tracing Amendment Bill will support the Mycoplasma bovis response and eradication programme by clarifying existing obligations regarding the declaration of animal movements, search and inspection powers, and offence provisions. The discovery of the first case of Mycoplasma bovis in the Tasman District this week has underlined the need for prompt action.

The committee stage of the Statutes Amendment Bill (No 2) will include consideration of an amendment to the Customs and Excise Act 2018 that would correct a drafting error that would’ve resulted in the removal of excise-equivalent duty on imported champagne from 1 October.

💬 Hon Louise Upston: You wouldn’t have minded that!

The correction—ha, ha!—needs to be in place in advance of that date, although there are probably mixed views about that around the House.

The enactment of the Tariff (PACER Plus) Amendment Bill before the Pacific Islands Forum summit early next month will support New Zealand’s advocacy and leadership of improved trade in the Pacific. I ask the House to support the motion.