Pace Of Urgency Picks Up

MPs made rapid progress on non-controversial bills as the House sat under Urgency on Thursday morning, passing all bills considered on a voice vote.

After resuming at 9am the committee stage and third reading of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (Covered Bonds) Amendment Bill were completed.

The bill puts in a regulatory regime to oversee financial institutions use of covered bonds to raise capital.

The committee stage and third reading of the Non-bank Deposit Takers Bill were also completed.

This Bill puts in place the final parts of regulation of non-bank deposit takers such as credit unions.

The Statutes Amendment Bill also completed its committee stage and third reading.

This is an omnibus bill proposing amendments of a technical nature to 33 Acts.

The Unit Titles Amendment Bill was another to complete its committee stage and third reading.

This bill had been part of the Statutes Amendment Bill but was split out as the Government Administration select committee said the changes could not be described as minor.

Labour MP Trevor Mallard said the bill changed 21 clauses in the legislation and while they were minor and non-controversial, their cumulative effect was quite large.

The Medicines Amendment Bill completed its committee stage and debate was interrupted on its third reading when Parliament adjourned for lunch at 1p,

This bill amends the Medicines Act 1981 to address some problematic provisions affecting the approval and prescription of medicines and medical devices.

Labour’s Annette King said the bill was 14 years in the making and was a patch up job until wider reform of the Medicines Act could be completed and a new trans-Tasman agency can be put in place.

The delays had been due to National in opposition refusing to support the trans-Tasman regulatory regime. National had then reversed its position in government.

King said she had forward this bill seven years ago, but due to opposition from National it could not be progressed.

The first readings and referral to select committee of the Parole Amendment Bill, Immigration Amendment Bill (No 2) and the Objectionable Publications and Indecency Legislation Bill are still to be completed on the Urgency Motion.
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