Show Us Your Legislation, Margaret

Monday, August 6 2001
Rodney Hide Press Releases -- Governance & Constitution

After twenty months of complete inaction, Attorney-General Margaret Wilson has finally realised that she should really do something about holiday trading laws, ACT Finance Spokesman Rodney Hide said today.

"The painful process of coming to this realisation has been so daunting for Margaret that she hasn't actually managed to write any legislation yet.

"I've got good news for her. My 'Shop Trading Hours (Abolition of Restrictions) Bill' has been before Parliament since 1999. Since election, the Government has done everything it can to delay passage of my Bill. Perhaps this explains Margaret's failure to come up with anything of her own: she's been too busy delaying an ACT Bill that would actually fix the problem once and for-all.

"My Bill is now before Parliament for a vote. It would give shop owners the freedom to decide if they open on public holidays. This is far more democratic than Margaret Wilson's plans, which would have ultimate power rest in her office. Her scheme reeks of Muldoonism and cronyism.

"If Margaret Wilson is serious about bringing our holiday trading laws out of the dark ages, then she would let Labour MPs choose for themselves whether they should vote for my Bill.

"Otherwise, Margaret's going to be out-of-office by the time she manages to get pen to paper," Rodney Hide said today.

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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