Urgency

I move, That urgency be accorded the introduction and passing through all stages of the Excise and Excise-equivalent Duties Table (Budget Measures—Motor Spirits) Amendment Bill, the Social Assistance Legislation (Budget 2019 Welfare Package) Amendment Bill, the Immigration (International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy) Amendment Bill, the New Zealand Business Number Funding (Validation and Authorisation) Bill, and the District Court (District Court Judges) Amendment Bill; the introduction, first reading, and referral to a select committee of the Education (School Donations) Amendment Bill; and the first reading and referral to a select committee of the Kāinga Ora—Homes and Communities Bill and the New Zealand Public Health and Disability (Waikato DHB) Elections Bill.

The Government is asking the House to accord urgency to a package of bills that deliver the Government’s Budget priorities and address other issues that require a rapid legislative process. Six of the bills to be considered under urgency are fewer than 10 clauses long. Five bills will pass through all stages.

The Excise and Excise-equivalent Duties Table (Budget Measures—Motor Spirits) Amendment Bill sets the rates of duty on vehicle fuel that will apply from 1 July this year. The immediate enactment of the bill will enable businesses and other vehicle users to plan in advance of the changes. The Social Assistance Legislation (Budget 2019 Welfare Package) Amendment Bill gives effect to the income support policy changes announced through Budget 2019 that will contribute towards the Budget priority of reducing child poverty and improving child wellbeing. The Immigration (International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy) Amendment Bill creates a revenue stream that will contribute to the funding of conservation and tourism infrastructure, and comes into force at the start of July. Its enactment now will enable further action to proceed. The District Court (District Court Judges) Amendment Bill allows Budget provision for additional judges to be put into practice. Passing the bill under urgency will allow those judges to be in place and deal with a backlog of cases as soon as possible. The New Zealand Business Number Funding (Validation and Authorisation) Bill corrects a drafting error in the 2016 legislation. This has to be corrected and on the statute book by 30 June.

Three bills will have their first reading under urgency so that select committee consideration, including opportunities for public submissions, can be accelerated. All three have been well sign-posted. The Education (School Donations) Amendment Bill reduces the burden on families by reducing the reliance of schools on voluntary contributions. The Kāinga Ora—Homes and Communities Bill creates a Crown entity that will make a critical contribution to housing New Zealanders in strong communities. The New Zealand Public Health and Disability (Waikato DHB) Elections Bill gives legislative force to the already announced exemption of the Waikato DHB from the elections later this year, so must be enacted as soon as possible. I commend this urgency motion to the House.