The Day In Parliament (Press, 12 June 1985)

On 12 June 1985, Parliament in Wellington convened at 2:30 p.m., where members presented four petitions. Mr P. F. Dunne from the Labour Party submitted a petition from Mrs E. Mather of the Wellington branch of the Nurses’ Association, along with 136 other supporters, requesting the repeal of the State Services Conditions of Employment Amendment Act of 1983. In addition, Mr T. C. Mallard, also Labour from Hamilton West, presented two separate petitions against the Homosexual Law Reform Bill, one from Robert Wilson and 74 others, and another from Mrs Gail McGuire and 129 others from Hamilton. Furthermore, Mr J. A. Banks from the National Party, representing Whangarei, also brought forth a petition from the Whangarei branch of the Nurses’ Association, supported by 249 others, calling for the repeal of the same employment amendment act. The session included the submission of 12 notices of motion. Mr Caygill, the Minister of Trade and Industry, introduced the Commerce Bill, which was passed through a division with a vote of 44 in favour to 22 opposed and was referred to the Commerce and Energy Select Committee. During the session, Ministers answered a total of 17 questions. The House also received a report from the Select Committee on Petitions, which indicated no recommendations on a petition from Sir Dove-Myer Robinson along with the Ratepayers and Residents’ Action Committee, concerning a potential inquiry into the proposed Aotea Centre in Auckland. After recessing for dinner at 5:30 p.m. and resuming at 7:30 p.m., the Governor-General, Sir David Beattie, approved appropriations for the Maori Purposes Bill and granted Royal Assent to 22 component bills under the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill. The Minister of Broadcasting, Mr Hunt, proposed urgency for the third readings of nine component bills of the Union Membership Bill, which was supported with a 38-22 vote. Debates commenced regarding various bills, including the State Services Conditions of Employment Bill, which faced a motion to read and discharge from Mr lan McLean of the National Party. Following this, the third reading of the State Services Conditions of Employment Amendment Bill passed with a vote of 37-22. Subsequent discussions involved the Wages Protection Amendment Bill, which achieved its third reading with a division of 36-23, although one amendment was rejected. An Opposition motion to recommit the Post Office Amendment Bill (No. 2) was defeated, with the ongoing debate concluding late into the night at 10:55 p.m., where an amendment for a 12-month delay was also turned down, allowing passage of the bill at 36-22. The House additionally debated the New Zealand Railways Corporation Amendment Bill, but calls for discharging and recommitting the bill were rejected. Finally, it was announced that Radio New Zealand had received an international marketing award for its promotional efforts in radio advertising within the business sector from the Broadcast Promotion Marketing Executive Organisation in Chicago. The House adjourned at 11:54 p.m.

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