MOM Bill Grinds On

MOM Bill Grinds On

There was heated debated on the Government’s plans to sell part of the energy SOEs as the Opposition sought to delay the progress of the Mixed Ownership Model Bill on Tuesday night.

Labour Leader David Shearer led off the debate laying out his party’s opposition to the bill.

National Deputy Prime Minister Bill English challenged Labour to say whether they would buy back the shares sold in Genesis Power, Meridian Energy, Mighty River Power and Solid Energy.

There was about three hours debate on the first part of the two part bill, but Labour were unimpressed when Eric Roy accepted closure motion at around 8.20 pm.

Trevor Mallard was even less impressed when Roy then ruled out a large number of amendments tabled earlier in the evening as he said they were inconsequential.

This led to Speaker Lockwood Smith being recalled, but Smith backed Roy’s ruling.

During the vote on part one, the Maori Party voted with National, ACT and United Future to reject Opposition MP amendments, but did not back the bill itself with the first party being accepted by 61 to 60.

The House rose at 10pm interrupting debate on part two of the Bill.

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