Mondayised holidays could be in law this year
Labour's private member's bill has passed its second reading – just.
Mondayised holidays could become law before the end of the year, according to Labour's David Clark.
Dr Clark’s private member's bill would see Waitangi and Anzac days transferred to a Monday when they fall on a weekend.
It passed its second reading in parliament yesterday by a slim 61-60 margin.
That was the same margin which saw the bill pass its first reading last July, after United Future’s Peter Dunne supported it.
National’s caucus still opposed the bill yesterday but Dr Clark believes its pledge not to invoke a financial veto has given the bill added support.
He told NBR ONLINE he did not see how the government would have been able to use the veto, given the cost to the public sector would be “miniscule”.
He says a recent MYOB survey of more than 1000 business owners suggests half of them support it.
“That’s mainly because the bill will simplify accounting arrangements, by making every year the same.”
The bill will now head to its select committee stage and its final reading later this year.
Blair Cunningham
Thu, 14 Mar 2013
Thu, 14 Mar 2013
© All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
Mondayised holidays could be in law this year
27998