The Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill (the Bill) was introduced in the House of Commons on 11 May 2022.

The long title to the Bill notes that it is a Bill to “enable the implementation of, and the making of other provision in connection with, the government procurement Chapters of the United Kingdom’s free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand.”

The Bill is subject to the legislative consent process under Standing Order 29. This is when the consent of the Welsh Parliament is sought by the UK Government to legislate on an issue which falls  within the competence of the Senedd.

The Legislative Consent Motion for the Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill was not agreed in Plenary on 31 January 2023.

Legislative Consent Memorandum – May 2022

The Welsh Government laid a Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) (PDF 87.2KB) on the Bill before the Senedd on 25 May 2022.

The Business Committee referred the LCM to the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee, the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee with a reporting deadline of 29 September 2022 (PDF 38.9KB)

On 20 September 2022, the Business Committee agreed (PDF 39.8KB) a new reporting deadline of 1 December 2022

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report (190KB) on 23 November 2022. The Welsh Government responded (PDF 185KB) to the report on14 December 2022.