Hon Max Bradford
Minister for Enterprise and Commerce

Media Release

12 August 1999

Commerce Act Amendments Will Still Go Through

Enterprise and Commerce Minister Max Bradford said today Commerce Act Amendments would still go through Parliament next year, no matter who was in Government.

Earlier this week, Cabinet approved additional changes to the Commerce Amendment Bill, which went to the Commerce Select Committee as a Supplementary Order Paper yesterday.

The Select Committee decided to push the closing date for public submissions out to the 17th of September.

"It is not surprising that the Select Committee pushed the date out as the Government doesn't have a majority on the select committee.

"Once again, ACT, Labour and the Alliance have simply played politics.

"It would have been preferable to have the Amendment Bill to the House before the election, but these things happen under MMP," Mr Bradford said.

"The Supplementary Order Paper was introduced as I indicated it would be. I expect the select committee will undertake hearing the submissions after the closure date and then report it back to the House.

"I am quite relaxed to leave it on the Order Paper until the life of the new Government.

"Regardless who is elected, there will be a significant change to the Commerce Act along the lines set out in the SOP.

"Labour's planned changes are nothing but a poor copy of what we have been canvassing with business for months," Mr Bradford said.

ENDS

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