Early poll makes new laws late

By KEVIN TAYLOR

New laws affecting business are on hold because of the early election.

The last sitting day for Parliament is today after Prime Minister Helen Clark's announcement on Tuesday of a July 27 election. This means some draft laws will be put on ice until Parliament reconvenes in September.

The Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Bill, one of the most controversial pieces of looming legislation for business, was due to be reported back by a select committee on June 25.

The bill has been blasted by business groups and lawyers, and defended by the union movement.

It explicitly makes stress and fatigue workplace hazards, boosts fines five-fold, and throws up an array of other worries for business.

Enabling legislation to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions - another big concern of business groups - is still at the select committee stage and was due to be reported back on July 19.

Another important piece of looming legislation is the Securities Markets and Institutions Bill.

It was reported back by a select committee last week with significant amendments, but is yet to pass into law.

The bill beefs up the enforcement role of the Securities Commission and Takeovers Panel, and strengthens the disclosure regime for listed companies.

The Local Government Bill, which business groups criticised for giving councils broad "powers of general competency", is also stuck with a select committee.

The committee was due to report back to Parliament on July 15.

The Trade Marks Bill is another proposed law that has concerned the business sector.

Intellectual property experts are worried that famous trade marks that have slipped into general public use are at risk.

The bill has a clause that allows trademarks to be revoked if they become a common name in public use.

The select committee considering the bill has reported back, but it has gone no further.

Other draft laws have been sitting in abeyance longer, and are still awaiting Parliament's green light.

These include the long-awaited Construction Contracts Bill, and the Resource Management Amendment Bill.

Hearings were held last year on the Construction Contracts Bill, which was promoted by Alliance leader Laila Harre to protect the construction industry from corporate collapses.

The bill's fast-track mediation procedures for resolving disputes, as well as other measures, are being keenly awaited by the construction industry.

The Resource Management Amendment Bill is a gutted version of a bill introduced when National was still in power to improve the Resource Management Act.

Parliament last night passed a Government motion to carry over bills so they can be picked up again after the election without having to start the law-making process all over again.

Meanwhile, an Auckland business leader said yesterday that he was concerned that a bill allowing private investment in roads and toll-roads would now be delayed even further.

Legislation was supposed to have been introduced this month, said Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett.

However the bill would now be delayed until after the election.

Barnett urged early action by the next government.

He said Aucklanders should ensure the next government had a strong commitment to early passage of legislation to help the region's transport problems.

Law changes were needed to ensure the region's transport infrastructure can be completed in the next five years.

"We need a government that is supportive of Auckland's needs and is prepared to make a commitment in the campaign to deliver the required legislation with some urgency."

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