BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Opposition Leader Mathew Wale has called on the Government to establish an internal legislative affairs committee that does similar work to the Bills Committee.
Speaking during the motion of special adjournment on Tuesday this week, Wale said the aim is to enable the Bills Committee to process a little bit more efficiently.
“My advice to the government would be perhaps to make the Bills Committee process a little bit more efficient. It is probably good to have an internal legislative affairs committee that does similar work to what the Bills Committee does, which brings together stakeholders. But it’s an internal government process. So that policy issues are fine-tuned within government,” said Wale.
He said that this will also allow any drafting issues to be fine-tuned in the government.
Wale said that having the internal process in place will refine the policy choices that are made.
“Perhaps some additional issues that weren’t identified could be identified. By the time it comes to caucus and cabinet, it comes for blessing, true blessing. I think it will fine-tune the policy legislative interface for internal processes for the government. That would make the Bills Committee process a whole lot more efficient,” said Wale.
He further said that the Bills Committee is going to be quite busy as two bills, the National Building Standard Bill and the Mineral Resources Bill are on notice on parliament’s business paper.
“The Bills Committee will start immediately on those and we’re looking forward to the other bills that various ministries are working on,” concluded Wale.
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