The Consumer Law Reform Bill passed its first reading on a voice vote and was sent the Commerce Committee.

Consumer Affairs Minister Chris Tremain said the bill was a well overdue reform of a 20 year old law and would also allow New Zealand law to harmonise with recent changes in Australia.

The bill was the first Tremain introduced to the House after becoming a minister

Lianne Dalziel said the bill had been in gestation for some time and it addressed many of the problems that consumers and retailers faced with the current law.

The bill overhauls a raft of bills including:

• the Fair Trading Act 1986;
• the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993;
• the Weights and Measures Act 1987;
• the Carriage of Goods Act 1979;
• the Sale of Goods Act 1908; and
• the Secondhand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 2004.

It also repeals and replaces the Auctioneers Act 1928, the Door to Door Sales Act 1967, the Layby Sales Act 1971, and the Unsolicited Goods and Services Act 1975.

The House adjourned at 6pm interrupting the third reading of the Road User Charges Bill.

Parliament will resume next Tuesday at 2pm.

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