Explanatory note

This Supplementary Order Paper amends the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Bill. As it stands, the Government can change or override any law in the country until 2016 without any Parliamentary oversight or independent checks. The proposed amendments will help ensure there is an independent review panel to review any Orders in Council made under the new legislation. The Panel will have the ability to refer Orders in Council for debate in the House of Representatives when they are contrary to the purposes of Act. The current Bill sets out that the Review Panel will be appointed solely by the responsible Minister (who also has the unlimited power to remove members), this means that their independence is compromised.