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Justice Minister Simon Power has welcomed the unanimous passing of a bill to honour a pre-election promise to hold a referendum on the voting system.

“I’m particularly pleased with how parliamentary parties have worked constructively together on this important constitutional issue,” Mr Power said.

“I also want to thank the public for helping to shape the referendum during the select committee process.”

Parliament today voted overwhelmingly to pass new electoral finance laws to govern next year’s General Election.

The Electoral (Finance Reform and Advance Voting) Amendment Act passed its third reading 116 votes to 5.

Justice Minister Simon Power said the new Act fulfils an election promise to repeal Labour’s 2007 Electoral Finance Act and replace it through a process which involves all parliamentary parties and the public.

“One of the most important aspects of the new regime is the process we used to construct it,” Mr Power said.

Justice Minister Simon Power leaves today for a meeting of the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General in Canberra.

The Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG) is comprised of the Attorneys-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, its states and territories, and New Zealand's Minister of Justice. Norfolk Island has observer status at SCAG meetings.

SCAG provides a forum for Ministers to discuss matters of mutual interest, progress projects to harmonise laws across jurisdictions, and simplify legal transactions across state and trans-Tasman boundaries.

A new report analysing results from government-owned companies and investment funds will help improve their performance, Finance Minister Bill English and State Owned Enterprises Minister Simon Power say.

The Treasury’s Crown Ownership Monitoring Unit today published the first of what is expected to be a series of annual publications about the performance of the 37 Crown-owned entities that have full or partial commercial objectives.

Commerce Minister Simon Power today announced the reappointment of Mike Willing as a member and vice-chair of the governing board of the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ).

JAS-ANZ is responsible for overseeing a joint accreditation system that ensures safety and quality, and underpins environmental management schemes. As a trans-Tasman organisation, JAS-ANZ strengthens trade between New Zealand, Australia and other countries.

Commerce Minister Simon Power has released a discussion document aimed at making investing in KiwiSaver easier to understand for everyday investors.

The discussion paper outlines proposals that require retail KiwiSaver providers to report quarterly on key investment information, including:

Good afternoon.

I’d like to acknowledge the members of the judiciary and the legal profession for being here today for the official opening of the Papakura - Pukekohe Public Defence Service.

The opening of this branch is significant because it marks the completion of the PDS rollout to the Auckland region.

It’s a journey which began back in 2004 when the idea of using an in-house, high-quality legal aid service, through the use of salaried staff rather than contracted lawyers, was trialled in the Auckland and Manukau courts.

Justice Minister Simon Power today officially opened the Papakura-Pukekohe Public Defence Service. 

The PDS provides an in-house legal aid service, through the use of salaried staff rather than contracted lawyers.

“The opening of this PDS branch is significant because it marks the completion of the PDS rollout to the Auckland region,” Mr Power said.

State Owned Enterprises Minister Simon Power today announced the appointment of Chris Moller as chair of Meridian Energy.

Mr Moller was appointed to the Meridian board as a director in May last year. His appointment as chair is effective from 1 January next year to 31 October 2013.

"Mr Moller brings strong governance skills, aligned with extensive senior executive experience to the board,” Mr Power said.

“I look forward to the contribution he will make to Meridian as it further develops its strategy over the coming years."

Commerce Minister Simon Power today announced the establishment of a committee to conduct disciplinary proceedings arising out of complaints against authorised financial advisers.

“The aim of the Financial Advisers Act is to build confidence in the professionalism and integrity of financial advisers,” Mr Power said.

“A key part of that is making financial advisers accountable for the advice they give.”

Ladies and gentlemen, this event is the annual opportunity for the legal profession to celebrate the valuable work the foundation does as New Zealand's only funder of pure legal research, independe

Justice Minister Simon Power welcomes public submissions on a bill which contains the biggest changes to criminal procedure in decades.

The 526-page Criminal Procedure (Reform and Modernisation) Bill, which contains the changes, was sent to select committee today after it passed its first reading in Parliament.

Mr Power said the bill is designed to simplify and speed up the criminal justice system, while ensuring that a defendant's right to a fair trial is maintained.

Commerce Minister Simon Power has welcomed changes to a bill which enables greater co-operation between the Commerce Commission and its international counterparts.

Mr Power said the Commerce Commission (International Cooperation and Fees) Bill is particularly important to advancing the Single Economic Market Outcomes Framework announced by the New Zealand and Australian Prime Ministers in August last year.

A bill which completes the amalgamation of New Zealand's electoral agencies passed its first reading in Parliament last night with unanimous support.

The Electoral (Administration) Amendment Bill (No. 2) transfers the functions of the Chief Registrar of Electors to the new Electoral Commission.

It is the second and final stage of the Government's consolidation of electoral agencies. It was introduced after the new Electoral Commission took over the functions of the Chief Electoral Officer and the old Electoral Commission on October 1.

New Zealand Commerce Minister Simon Power and Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer David Bradbury today announced cross-appointments between the Australian Competition and Consumer C

Justice Minister Simon Power has welcomed the Electoral Legislation Select Committee's report to Parliament on the Electoral Referendum Bill.

Broad political consensus has emerged to progress new electoral finance laws, Justice Minister Simon Power said today.

A bill to transfer the functions of the Chief Registrar of Electors to the new Electoral Commission was introduced to Parliament today by Justice Minister Simon Power.

Commerce Minister Simon Power leaves tonight on a four-day trip to Hong Kong and Singapore which is primarily focused on the financial sector.

Justice Minister Simon Power today introduced a bill which contains radical change to simplify and speed up the criminal justice system.

Justice Minister Simon Power is encouraging the public to have a say on the Government's Alcohol Reform Bill after it passed its first reading in Parliament today by 114 votes to 3.

Mister Speaker, I move that the Alcohol Reform Bill be read a first time. 

Good morning and thank you for inviting me to speak today. 

The Government's bill which targets alcohol-related harm and, in particular, youth drinking was introduced to Parliament today by Justice Minister Simon Power.