Source: New Zealand Parliament – Hansard
THURSDAY, 30 APRIL 2020
The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.
Karakia.
BUSINESS STATEMENT
Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): Next week, the House will continue to sit in a fashion that’s consistent with the country being at COVID-19 alert level 3. The Government has undertaken not to advance most aspects of its normal legislative programme at this time. The House will consider legislation relating to COVID-19, including the COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Amendment Bill, which will receive its first reading. There are likely to be other bills on immigration and remuneration. The annual review debate will continue, examining portfolios including foreign affairs, education, and others to be agreed between the parties.
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam): Thank you for the outline of the business under our different arrangements next week. Look, is there a chance that those bills would be available to the Opposition a little sooner than the bills that we’re dealing with this afternoon, which have only become available this morning? We are using processes that now allow the law to reflect the support that’s required for New Zealanders relating to this, but I think it would be valuable and in part of good order if we could see those bills a little sooner than was the case today.
Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): The biggest constraint that we have is just the speed of drafting of the legislation, but, as we did with the bill today, whilst I was unable to get the bill to the Opposition earlier I was able to get them a summary, and I’m certainly happy to provide the Opposition, hopefully this afternoon, with a summary of the likely content of those bills even if I can’t give them the exact bills.
