War Memorial Bill To Follow Any Urgent Debate

The fast-tracked legislation to set up a war memorial park in central Wellington returns to Parliament for debate this afternoon.

After Question Time there is likely to be a request for an urgent debate on Prime Minister John Key stating the GCSB had acted unlawfully in the surveillance of Kim Dotcom and his associates.

Top of the Order Paper is the second reading of the National War Memorial Park (Pukeahu) Empowering Bill.

Arts Ministers Chris Finalayson put the bill through a shortened select committee process as he said it had to be dealt with quickly so work could be completed on the war memorial park for the centennial commemoration of the Anzac Day landings in 2015.
The bill would ensure the memorial was completed in a proper setting and deal with the issue of State Highway One running so close to it, he said.

This will be followed by the second readings of the Customs and Excise (Tobacco Products-Budget Measures) Amendment Bill and Lawyers and Conveyancers Amendment Bill.

The former bill amends the Customs and Excise Act 1996 to make four cumulative 10 percent increases to the duties on all tobacco products. The latter bill has been languishing on the Order Paper for over a year awaiting debate.

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