Business Statement

Legislation to be considered by the House next week will include the remaining stages of the Abortion Legislation Bill and the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute Vesting Bill, the third readings of the Taxation (KiwiSaver, Student Loans, and Remedial Matters) Bill and the Smoke-free Environments (Prohibiting Smoking in Motor Vehicles Carrying Children) Amendment Bill, and the first readings of the Regulatory Systems (Transport) Amendment Bill, the Organic Products Bill, the Child Support Amendment Bill, and the Gas (Information Disclosure and Penalties) Amendment Bill. The first general debate of the year will take place on Wednesday, 18 March.

I thank the Leader of the House for the update. Can I invite him, in the wake of the apparent propensity of the Government to have shortened select committee processes and perhaps more extended hours sittings between now and the House rising for the election, that he produce a longer time indication of when those extended hours could be in order that there could be good planning in the select committees?

I think that’s a fair request. We’ve certainly been trying to give committees greater notice of when extended sittings will take place, and I’ll certainly take that on board.