Drink Driving Law And Slave Boats Bill

A bill lowering the drink driving limits has passed into law this evening, while a bill banning “slave ships” made progress.

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee said the Land Transport Amendment Bill would lower drink driving limits and show the Governments’ commitment to road safety.

While the road toll was coming down it was still tragically high and more needed to be done to reduce the number of deaths on roads.

Phil Twyford said Labour was supporting the bill. He said it only came about because a Labour MP had a bill which would have done the same thing being pull from the ballot and forcing the Government’s hand.

The bill completed its third reading 109 to 7 with NZ First opposed.

The committee stage of the Fisheries (Foreign Charter Vessels and Other Matters) Amendment Bill began with all parts taken as one debate.

The bill requires all foreign owned fishing vessels to fly under a New Zealand flag from May 2016 and obey all New Zealand laws. This includes labour laws. The bill follows a review into “slave” ships operating in New Zealand waters and seeks to clamp down on human right abuses on fishing vessels.

Opposition MPs accused the Maori Party of blocking the passage of this bill into law in this Parliament, no members of the Maori Party were in the House to answer the accusations though they have denied this in a press release.

It would still be possible to pass the bill by leave tomorrow if all MPs in the House agreed.

Earlier the Veterans’ Support Bill completed its third reading on a voice vote.

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