Source: New Zealand Parliament – Hansard
BUSINESS STATEMENT
Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): Today, the House will adjourn until Tuesday, 23 August. Legislation to be considered in that week will include the remaining stages of the Accident Compensation (Maternal Birth Injury and Other Matters) Amendment Bill, and the third readings of the New Zealand Bill of Rights (Declarations of Inconsistency) Amendment Bill and the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System and Children and Young People’s Commission Bill. The Estimates debate will continue, with the Ministers of Justice, Local Government, and Police appearing on Tuesday. There will be an extended sitting on the morning of Wednesday, 24 August.
CHRIS BISHOP (National): Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I was wondering if I could ask the Leader of the House—is it still the Government’s expectation that Ministers will appear before select committees to explain bills that they are in charge of?
Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: That’s never been the Government’s expectation. The Standing Orders Committee did make a change encouraging Ministers, where it was appropriate, to make themselves available to discuss a bill if that’s what the select committee wanted. That wasn’t an expectation set by the Government. That was a change by the Standing Orders Committee. I certainly support the change, and where there is good reason—for example, if there is a discussion about a policy intention behind a bill—then it can be appropriate for a Minister to attend a select committee, and they certainly have my full support if they make themselves available to do that.
