The House: Super, Death And Fruit

Parliament this afternoon will continue with the urgency motion and it is still uncertain when the House will consider further producer board reform legislation.

This morning the committee stages of the Appropriation (1999/2000 Estimates) Bill were completed and the committee stages of the Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions—Special Portability Arrangement) Amendment Bill (committee stages) were begun. The Bill allows people who receive National Superannuation to move overseas and still receive the payments under certain conditions.

Tukoroirangi Morgan introduced an amendment calling for Pacific Island peoples to be eligible for Super payments at an earlier age than Pakeha because of their much lower life expectancy. The amendment does not appear to have the support of the House.

The Scoop understands that the Sale of Liquor Amendment Bill (No. 2) will not be progressed past the consideration of the select committee report. This means that the conscience votes concerning liquor sale liberalisation may not now be held in this sitting session.

The producer board reforms - the Apple and Pear Industry Restructuring Bill and The Kiwifruit Industry Restructuring Bill - are said to be debated before the House. However the Government are simply saying that it will be “this week”.

A third new bill - The Penal Institution Bill (no2) is also to be debated. This includes the introduction of phone tapping of prisoner phone calls.

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