Two key tax treaties couldn’t proceed in Friday’s House of Assembly as legislative amendments were not provided to the Opposition in time.

Attorney General Mark Pettingill apologised for the situation but asked leave to go ahead with the two acts.

“These are legal treaties that impact on our international relations — they have to be done,” he told Speaker of the House, Randolph Horton.

The two items up for approval were the USA-Bermuda Tax Convention Amendment Act 2013, and the International Cooperation (Tax Information Exchange Agreements) Amendment Act 2013.

Mr Pettingill said the amendments had to follow the “moving target” of Court of Appeal decisions made just last week.

“We’re on the back foot with regards to getting these through the House as soon as possible,” he said.

Mr Horton voiced his displeasure that the amendments hadn’t reached Shadow AG Kim Wilson until 12.15pm that day and told Mr Pettingill both items would have to wait until this week’s session of the House.

Friday’s sitting also passed over a debate to be moved by Finance Minister Bob Richards on the final report of the SAGE Commission.

Deferred as well were a discussion paper on special education, along with a second reading of the Firearms Amendment (No 2) Act 2013.