30 Jan 2014

Urgency concerns left out of rights report

9:21 pm on 30 January 2014

The Law Society says a recent report to the United Nations failed to include its concerns about the use of Parliamentary urgency.

The report was submitted by the Government as part of a regular review of New Zealand's human rights record.

Urgency is when the Government sits extended hours to pass legislation more quickly.

Law Society spokesperson Austin Forbes, QC, said the Government uses urgency more than it should.

He said some of the acts passed under urgency such as the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Amendment Act breach the Bill of Rights.

Mr Forbes said the overuse of urgency is an attack on human rights because there is no opportunity for public consultation.