United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill
Members, we now come to our final debate, the debate on clauses 1 and 2—“Title” and “Commencement”.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a question for the Minister on clause 2, “Commencement”. I would just like some clarification from the Minister on why, for this particular Act, since we already see that the agreement is, in effect, signed, but the Act only comes into force on a single day set by Order in Council as opposed to the day after Royal assent. I wanted to check—a couple of questions—number one, what is the rationale for having it by Order in Council and not by Royal assent? What are the precautionary measures that have been taken to determine that? Is there any indication of what that single date by Order in Council would be? I think the third part of the question, which is something I was going to ask that ties into the Schedule, is around the no refund: how would people who have made an application, who then would not get a refund, know when that single day by Order in Council would be; and whether you will see people trying to either apply before or apply after, so that way they are not affected by that no refund clause in the Schedule?
Those are my three questions: why by Order in Council and not the day after Royal assent; is there an indication of what that single date by Order in Council would be; and what are the criteria for determining that single date; and also around the no refund?
Thank you very much. Quite simply, the reason for the Order in Council process is to enable bilateral discussions between New Zealand and the UAE to agree on the date on which the agreement will come into effect. At this point, that hasn’t been done, but it’s a mutual process at which the parties will come to some agreement. That, in effect, answers your second question, and in the process, hopefully, answers the third.
Mr Speaker, the committee has considered the United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill and reports it without amendment. I move, That the report be adopted.
Motion agreed to.
Report adopted.