Wellington, March 17 NZPA - Calls to scrap the controversial new internet copyright law are increasing ahead of the Government's March 27 deadline for a decision on its future.

Wellington, March 15 NZPA - The Overseas Investment Act is going to be reviewed as well as others that put the brake on economic growth, Prime Minister John Key said at the weekend.

Wellington, March 14 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key paid tribute to the "constructive and effective" relationships his party has with its three support partners when he addressed the ACT conference today.

Wellington, March 11 NZPA - Parliament's commerce select committee is going to be asked to hold an inquiry into the reasons why so many finance companies have collapsed.

Wellington, March 10 NZPA - Concerns about SuperGold cardholders' free use of off-peak public transport exceeding the scheme's allocated budget are premature, says Transport Minister Steven Joyce.

Wellington, March 9 NZPA - Consumer Affairs Minister Heather Roy says Fraud Awareness Week was a big success with record hits on her Scamwatch website. Ms Roy launched the week last Monday to increase awareness of fraud and identity theft.

Wellington, March 5 NZPA - Figures for 2008 electoral spending from Electoral Commission website: ACT New Zealand Expenditure limit: (incl GST) $2,180,000.00 Total expenditure: $1,142,087.64 Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party $1,160,000.00

By Kate Chapman of NZPA Wellington, March 5 NZPA - The ACT Party's five plush green leather chairs in Parliament's debating chamber are worth almost $230,000 each -- more than any of the other seats.

Wellington, March 4 NZPA - Shop trading hours will be part of the Government's review of red tape and unnecessary bureaucracy, Regulatory Reform Minister Rodney Hide says. Mr Hide is directing the review and said tonight shop trading laws needed changing.

By Peter Wilson of NZPA Wellington, March 4 NZPA - Wanganui's bill to ban gang patches passed another stage in Parliament tonight when it went through its second reading on a 64-58 vote.

Wellington, March 2 NZPA - The proposed "three strikes and you're out" sentencing policy could breach human rights, the Attorney-General says. The Government agreed to support the three strikes policy through its first reading as part of its support agreement with ACT.

Wellington, March 1 NZPA - Labour MP Trevor Mallard says today is a sad day in the country's employment relations history as the Government's controversial 90-day probation for new employees begins.

Wellington, Feb 26 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key will be a guest speaker at its support partner ACT's conference in Auckland next month. It would be the first time a National Party leader had addressed an ACT conference, ACT leader Rodney Hide said.

Wellington, Feb 26 NZPA - Terms of reference for reviews of the Building Act, the second phase of the Resource Management Act and the Overseas Investment Act are to be finalised by April, Regulatory Reform Minister Rodney Hide said today.

Wellington, Feb 25 NZPA - ACT and the Green Party are backing calls for the Government to consider suspending payments into the Superannuation Fund.

Wellington, Feb 24 NZPA - Fraudsters are on the loose and you can find out about them on the Government's scamwatch website.

By Peter Wilson of NZPA Wellington, Feb 24 NZPA - The Government's controversial 90-day probation for new employees starts on Sunday and Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson says it will help workers survive the recession.

Wellington, Feb 23 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key says estimates that the ACT Party's "three strikes and you're out" sentencing policy will cost more than $30 billion over 25 years do not stack up.

Wellington, Feb 23 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key says estimates that the ACT Party's "three strikes and you're out" sentencing policy will cost more than $30 billion over 25 years do not stack up.

Wellington, Feb 22 NZPA - Another poll shows National's honeymoon with the public remains passionate, with support increasing since the election.

Wellington, Feb 22 NZPA - An opponent of the ACT Party's "three strikes and you're out" sentencing policy says it will cost $7.5 billion over 25 years in new prisons.

Wellington, Feb 19 NZPA - A bill proposing to reduce parole eligibility for repeat violent offenders is not certain to pass into law despite being introduced into Parliament by the Government.

Wellington, Feb 18 NZPA - A government bill that makes it more difficult for the worst violent offenders to get parole was given its first reading in Parliament tonight.

By Ian Llewellyn of NZPA Wellington, Feb 16 NZPA - A junior minister has said the Government's razor gang wants to slice 10 percent from ministerial and departmental budgets, though she retracted this after Finance Minister Bill English said there was no specific target.

Wellington, Feb 15 NZPA - The ACT Party's "three strikes and you're out" sentencing policy is in a bill the Government intends introducing to Parliament on Thursday.

Wellington, Feb 3 NZPA - Cabinet Minister Rodney Hide has recommended that a businessman frustrated with building regulations should flout the law.

Wellington, Feb 3 NZPA - Councils and business groups have broadly welcomed a major overhaul of the Resource Management Act (RMA) but they and environmental groups have some concerns.

Wellington, Feb 3 NZPA - Councils and business groups have broadly welcomed a major overhaul of the Resource Management Act (RMA) but they and environmental groups have some concerns.

Wellington, Jan 22 NZPA - Local Government Minister Rodney Hide has called for Auckland City Council to hold fire on filling vacancies until a report that could see councils merged is released.

By Peter Wilson of NZPA Wellington, Jan 12 NZPA - Parliament will debate a raft of justice bills next month as the Government moves to meet its election commitments.