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.