Labour Use Queen's Death as Excuse to Ram Legislation Through

November 23, 2022

Hipkins said the urgency was necessary after a week’s worth of House sitting time was lost when Queen Elizabeth II died on September 9.

However, it meant four bills would move forward without going through the select committee process, which enabled the public to have their say on the proposed legislation.

The House moving with urgency had attracted strong criticism from all other parties in Parliament, who all opposed the motion in the House yesterday, but it passed as Labour held the necessary majority in the House.

The bills being progressed through all stages - which comprised of the first, second and third readings, select committee and committee of the whole House - included the Residential Tenancies (Healthy Homes Standards) Amendment Bill, which offered a 12-month extension to state landlord Kāinga Ora and private landlords to comply with the Health Homes Standards.

Also included was the Land Transport (Clean Vehicles) Amendment Bill that delayed the implementation of the Clean Car Standard, an emissions standard for imported vehicles, to give importers more time.