How a 'loophole' resulted in 11-day submission period on fast-track amendments law

​

Photo: ©VNP / Phil Smith

A loophole in parliamentary rules resulted in 11-days for the public to have their say on proposed fast-track amendments rather than the usual six weeks.

The decision prompted questions in the House and revealed a gap in the rules that have allowed for a truncated select committee time without the usual steps.

Here's how a gap in the rules means the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Bill can be passed by Christmas.

An overview of the Bill

A bill's journey into law involves several stages at Parliament including Introduction, First Reading, Select Committee, Second Reading, Committee of the Whole House and Third Reading.

This particular Bill was introduced on 3 November and had its first reading on 6 November.

It will make amendments to the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 - a contentious law that drew about 27,000 submissions when it went through Parliament last year and prompted protests both outside Parliament and within the chamber.

The first reading speeches followed the usual pattern of the government supporting the Bill and the opposition opposing it.

Photo: VNP/Louis Collins

Minister for RMA Reform Chris Bishop said the Bill is focused on improving competition in the grocery industry by making it clear that improving competition will be considered as part of fast-track applications.

"We have heard that potential grocery retailers are not confident their projects will be eligible, so the bill includes proposals to remove barriers to entry and expansion of new competitors by making it easier to get consents for new supermarkets," he said.

The bill will also make other technical and operational changes to the Fast-track Approvals Act such as allowing the government to issue policy statements and establishing a 60 day time frame for a panel to make a decision (unless the applicant agrees to an extension).

Speaking at the Bill's first reading, Labour MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan said her party would have supported the Bill had it just been about improving competition.

"The amendment that's being introduced today, that we are debating today in the House, will introduce a hundred changes that will give Ministers much more power over the con