16 December 2004
Simon Power National Party Chief Whip
National trips up Govt on RMA bill fast-track
National Party Chief Whip Simon Power says Environment Minister David Benson-Pope should tidy up his act and learn how
to do his job properly ahead of Monday's Cabinet reshuffle.
Mr Benson-Pope - a former whip - failed in the first reading of the Resource Management and Electricity Legislation
Amendment Bill today to say he would be seeking an early report-back date.
"Then, when referring the bill to the select committee at the end of the first reading, he tried to shorten the date to
6 May, rather than the six-month presumption under Standing Orders," Mr Power says.
"National had to point out that this was outside the scope of Standing Orders.
"And so, by his own error and poor management by the Government whips, he failed to secure the report-back date he
wanted.
"This is what happens when the Government has the House sitting under urgency to ram legislation through. It makes for
silly mistakes and sloppy legislation.
"Their whips should tidy up their act and Mr Benson-Pope should learn how to do his job properly. After all, there is a
reshuffle coming up on Monday," Mr Power says.
ENDS