Review of Parliament’s response to disasters

After the recent earthquakes in Canterbury, Parliament passed legislation to respond to the emergency and later to set up the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority. Both pieces of legislation contained wide powers, including for the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery.

Parliament’s Regulations Review Committee has been looking at some of the secondary legislation made under the two Acts, and considering what type of laws might be needed to respond to future disaster or emergency situations.

The Australasian Study of Parliament Group (ASPG) has arranged a seminar to consider these issues. Guest speakers will be Charles Chauvel MP, chairperson of the Regulations Review Committee, and Sascha Mueller, a law lecturer specialising in disaster law from the University of Canterbury. The seminar will cover a range of topics: including the use of urgency to pass legislation; subordinate legislation and regulation-making powers; and comparisons with other countries’ approaches to emergencies.

The ASPG aims to encourage research, writing and teaching about parliaments in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific to increase understanding of these institutions. The ASPG has chapters in New Zealand and Australia, with membership of the group including students, members of Parliament, parliamentary staff, academics, and interested members of the public. Chapters hold seminars and take turns to host an annual conference. The ASPG also publishes the Australasian Parliamentary Review twice a year.

The seminar on Parliament’s response to disaster and emergency will be held on Wednesday 15 August 2012, 6.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m., at Parliament. Those wishing to attend must register their attendance. Please do this by using the email contact on this page or by telephoning the chapter secretary on (04) 817 6890.