19 June 2008

The Attorney-Generals Chambers has advised the Clerk to Parliament, Mrs. Taeasi Sanga that the government plans to table at least fourteen Bills in the present meeting of Parliament. In the usual deliberative meeting between the National Parliament Office and the Attorney-General’s Chambers at the start of every Parliament meeting, the extensive legislative program was discussed. One of the challenges discussed was developing a well planned and coordinated tabling of the Bills that would allow the Bills and Legislation Committee to review each Bills appropriately, conduct public hearings with stakeholders and inform the public adequately of proposed new legislation and proposed changes to the legislation. The Committee will then prepare its report to Parliament before the Bill goes into the Second Reading.

The Bills and Legislation Committee is the Standing Select Committee responsible for scrutinizing all bills and legislation presented to Parliament. Whilst the Committee plays a significant oversight role in parliamentary process, the Standing Orders do not require the government to give notice for any Bills, which often means that Bills can be ‘steamrolled’ through Parliament and bypass proper scrutiny by the Committee. The discussion with the Attorney General, Mr. Gabriel Suri and the Secretary to the Prime Minister, Jeremiah Manele, are designed to avoid this and their interest in addressing the issues raised is the appreciated by the Committee.

In the present parliamentary meetings the Bills that will go before Parliament include:

• Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2009 (No.10)
• Constitution (Amendment)(No.2) Bill 2009 (No.11)
• Evidence Bill 2009 (No. 12 of 2009)
• Counter-terrorism Bill 2009 (No. 13 of 2009)
• Foreign Investment (Amendment and Validation) Bill 2009 (No. 14 of 2009)
• Penalties Miscellaneous Amendments Bill 2009 (No. 15 of 2009)
• Political Parties Bill 2009
• Constitution (Amendment) (No.3) Bill 2009
• Money-laundering and Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2009
• Currency Declaration Bill 2009
• National Parliament (Electoral Provisions) Bill 2009
• Telecommunications Bill 2009
• Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2009

On Monday 17 June 2009 the Committee held a deliberative meeting to map out how it will conduct the public hearings on the Traffic (Amendment) Bill, Evidence Bill and the Counter-terrorism Bill. The Committee intends to conduct hearings on the Traffic (Amendment) Bill on Thursday 18 June 2009 in time for debate next week Tuesday 23 June 2009, while hearings on the latter two will commence next week.