11 May 2009
Media release

Government must release Auckland bills now

Labour is calling on the Government to release today the two Auckland governance bills it plans to ram through under urgency this week, says its Auckland Issues spokesperson Phil Twyford.

“Leader of the House Gerry Brownlee confirmed last week that the Government expected to introduce the two bills on Wednesday.

“The first bill, set to be introduced and passed immediately, will: establish the proposed new Auckland council as a legal entity, establish the transition agency responsible for bringing in the new structure and move to constrain the decision-making powers of the existing councils. The second bill will lay out the framework for the Government’s Super City plans,” says Phil Twford.

“Last week in Parliament Labour sought an assurance that it would be given the bills several days in advance so it could scrutinise the legislation – but no assurances were given and neither of the bills have been sighted.

“Labour is again asking the Government for copies of the bills, and asking for that to happen today, so we have time to properly consider the legislation. This is particularly important in regard to the first bill, which National plans to pass immediately, without public consultation.

“Labour is concerned that this bill, to be rushed through all stages this week, will remove the existing right of Aucklanders to vote on any proposal to amalgamate councils. To progress such legislation without even letting Opposition MPs see it before it is debated is an affront to democracy,” Phil Twyford says.

“Parliamentary rules dictate that legislation should be tabled three days before any votes can be taken in the House, unless it is introduced under urgency, so political parties have time to analyse it,” Phil Twyford says.

“Urgency should not be used as an excuse to abuse these principles. The decisions taken around these bills will have a huge impact on Auckland’s future for the next 50 -100 years. MPs not only have a right, but an obligation to ensure they are on top of this legislation before being asked to vote on it.”

“The Government rushed its response to the Royal Commission’s proposals, is refusing to give Aucklanders the right to vote on its quite different plan, is ramming legislation through under urgency and is so far refusing to allow Opposition MPs the right to see the bills before they have to vote on them. This can only be labelled a demonstration of contempt for Aucklanders.”

ENDS

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