Business Statement

Next week, the Estimates debate will continue with appearances by four more Ministers. Legislation to be considered next week will include the first reading of the Hazarnous—Hazardous Substances and New Organism—Organisms (Hazardous Substances Assessments) Amendment Bill—

💬 Hon Simon Bridges: Get that one right.

💬 SPEAKER: Frank Gill got it wrong.

—yeah—the second readings of the Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Amendment Bill and the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Bill, and the third readings of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Bill and the Family Court (Supporting Children in Court) Legislation Bill. There will be a debate on a motion approving certain COVID-19 orders and a special debate following the Dawn Raids apology.

Thank you to the Leader of the House. I note that the Government is making announcements, or at least considering, on Thursday morning next week, future settings around COVID border settings and some of the scientific advice based around that. Can I just ask the Government whether it’s the intention to make a ministerial statement on Thursday afternoon in the House following that to allow the House to ventilate some of those issues, or if there’ll be maybe a special debate that afternoon?

I don’t think the conversation that we’ll be having next Thursday amounts to any announcements. I think it will be painting some directions of travel and some ideas and some possibilities. I think if people want to explore, I’m certainly open to the idea of a further debate in the House in due course, once members have had an opportunity to consider that and think about that, and if we want to discuss that at the Business Committee, the Government will be open to that.