Large legislative drafting programme underway
Prime Minister Hon Henry Puna said today that Government had a large legislative drafting programme underway with the assistance of Australia’s Attorney General’s Pacific Unit and the New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Pacific Desk.
“New Zealand assistance has recently begun and to date the following work had been achieved,” he said:
• Tax Amendment No. 2 - passed at last session of Parliament.
• Banking Bill and Regulations will be completed this week and ready for introduction to Parliament.
• Digital Registers Bill is being worked on currently and it is expected will be completed in the next three weeks, and can be tabled at the next sitting of Parliament.
• Perca Bill is the next priority and work will begin on that when the bulk of the Digital Registers Bill is complete.
• Copyright Bill is being prepared; it is extremely complicated and will take some time to prepare.
• Other Bills on the list for drafting are the Telecommunications Bill, Traditional Knowledge Bill, Transport Bill, Customs Bill and the Police Bill.
• The Family Law Bill has been drafted with assistance from Australia. The Regulations are now being prepared and a costing exercise has been completed.
He said it was desirable that Parliament sit for at least 100 days in a given financial year and it was the Government’s intention to work towards this target in the foreseeable future.
“Unfortunately, the circumstances in the first 4 months of the term of this Government did not allow for Parliament to sit. This was largely due to the requirement for electoral petitions to be heard by the High Court before Parliament could formally sit under section 29 (2) of the Constitution. “
Mr Puna said once the key legislation had been drafted, Parliament would have substantive business to consider and dates would be set for the next sitting later this year. - PM Office Media Release

Herald Issue 554 09 March
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