Urgency

I move, That urgency be accorded the remaining stages of the Appropriation (2023/24 Supplementary Estimates) Bill and the introduction and passing through all stages of the Imprest Supply (First for 2024/25) Bill; the remaining stages of the Accident Compensation (Interest on Instalment Plans) Amendment Bill; the second reading of the Corrections Amendment Bill; the first readings and referrals to a select committee of the Education and Training Amendment Bill, the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill, and the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Scheme Agricultural Obligations) Amendment Bill; the passing through all stages of the Forests (Log Traders and Forestry Advisers Repeal) Amendment Bill; the first reading and referral to a select committee of the Overseas Investment (Build-to-rent and Similar Rental Developments) Amendment Bill; the passing through all stages of the Land Transport (Clean Vehicle Standard) Amendment Bill; and the first reading and referral to a select committee of the Therapeutic Products Act Repeal Bill.

We’re moving urgency tonight to complete three bills left over from Budget night. In addition to that, we’re including other bills that we had scheduled for this week that, due to the nature of the singular sitting week and the Budget debate, are required to be included in this motion. The Supplementary Estimates and first imprest supply bill have to be passed before the end of the financial year; it’s a standard part of the Budget cycle.

The ACC bill makes it explicit that ACC can charge debit interest where levies are paid by instalments; there is some current ambiguity in the legislation, and we did hope to tidy up that part of the law before the House rose just after the Budget. That wasn’t possible for a range of reasons.

The forests log traders bill reduces a regulatory burden and removes unnecessary compliance costs. The land transport bill is required to be done as soon as possible to provide certainty for the vehicle industry.

We’re also sending five bills to select committee: the education and training bill to establish charter schools; re-establishing three strikes; repealing the Therapeutic Products Act, which is, of course, a New Zealand First - National coalition commitment; taking agriculture out of the emissions trading scheme; and making build-to-rent developments easier.

💬 DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question is that—

💬 Hon Dr Duncan Webb: Point of order, Madam Speaker.

💬 DEPUTY SPEAKER: I had just started a vote—I had started a vote. I can take your point of order after the vote, but I had actually started a vote, Dr Duncan Webb.

Point of order. Thank you, Madam Chair. My point of order was that the Minister, in signalling urgency—which he’s entitled to do under Standing Order 57—ran through a list of legislation and largely told us what it did. It’s a longstanding convention and Standing Order of this House that in respect of each of those bills, he needs to explain why they are urgent. We have five bills—routine bills—going to select committee which don’t have any particular urgency, and, if there is, the Minister certainly didn’t tell us what they were.

Speaking to the point of order. The member’s wrong on two points. Firstly, the requirement for urgency to have reasons is a recent practice. From memory, it came in in the Standing Orders review after 2017. So it’s not a longstanding convention of the House. The member needs to familiarise himself with Standing Orders.

The second point is that Standing Orders requires the mover of the urgency motion to give reasons. I gave extensive reasons. I’d encourage the member to reflect back on past moving of urgency by the Hon Chris Hipkins, in which he just, basically, said words to the effect of “We’re the Government. We can do what we like.” I’ve actually provided a whole range of different reasons.

Thank you, Mr Bishop.