Summer Adjournment Begins

MPs sent a bill on parliamentary privilege to select committee before they adjourned for the summer break.

Attorney General Chris Finlayson said the Parliamentary Privilege Bill implemented a Privileges Committee report.

This followed a Supreme Court decision which in the view of MPs had reduced the extent of parliamentary privilege. It was not about protecting individuals but ensuring Parliament could function in the public interest, he said.

The bill completed its first reading on a voice vote and was sent to the Privileges Committee for consideration.

The Adjournment Debate was completed and the recommended 2014 sitting programme was approved.

The House then adjourned for the year and will next sit on January 28.

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