1. RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) Link to this
to the Chairperson of the Commerce Committee
How many submissions have been received to date on the Regulatory Responsibility Bill, and what is the timetable for the hearing of submissions?
GERRY BROWNLEE (Chairperson of the Commerce Committee) Link to this
I am informed that the Commerce Committee has received some 180 submissions, and that the overwhelming majority of those submissions are in favour of the bill, as was the case at the House vote when the bill was read for the first time. The select committee will set down a hearing programme that allows all those who want to be heard to be heard, and expects to report the bill sometime in mid-November.
Is it too late for members of the public to make a submission to the Commerce Committee—would it be possible for the committee to receive those submissions?
The select committee’s deadline for submissions was 10 August, so the official period has closed. However, I am certain that should people wish to make a submission on this particular bill, the committee would be prepared to at least receive those in the interim. One of the things that is striking about this bill is the overwhelming number of submissions in favour of it.