Parliament debates cluster bomb ban
28th Jul 2009 | Filed Under Legislation, NZ Government
On the afternoon/evening of Tuesday 28 July 2009, the Cluster Munitions Prohibition Bill was debated by the New Zealand parliament for the first time. Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control, Hon. Georgina Te Heuheu, introduced the Bill and recommended the House follow the recommendation by the Foreign Affairs and Defence (FADT) Select Committee that the Bill be “expeditiously” passed. The proposed law to implement the Convention on Cluster Munitions must be passed before New Zealand can complete ratification of the Convention. Read more
Parliament starts to act on cluster bombs
2nd Jul 2009 | Filed Under Coalition Actions, Legislation, NZ Government
Parliament’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee met twice in May 2009 to consider the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions. It issued a “treaty examination” report recommending that the Minister of Disarmament “expeditiously” progress a bill through the House to implement the treaty domestically. The annexed National Interest Analysis (NIA) prepared by MFAT provides some recommendations on content for the proposed “Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Bill,” which will be “broadly similar” to the Anti-Personnel Mines Prohibition Act 1998 that implemented the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. Read more