The usual ballot for Member's Bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn:
- Local Electoral (Repeal of Race-Based Representation) Amendment Bill (Tony Ryall)
- Treaty of Waitangi (Removal of Conflict of Interest) Amendment Bill (Pita Paraone)
- Foreshore and Seabed Act (Repeal) Bill (Tariana Turia)
So, we're voting on the Treaty then. I can't really see either of the first two passing - the Labour/Green/Maori Party bloc has the numbers, so can vote them down unless they think the ideas are worthy of select committee examination. The last will be interesting, and will open the festering wound of Labour's betrayal of Maori over the foreshore, but I think it will ultimately be voted down (neither New Zealand First or United Future will really want to revisit the topic). But there'll likely be plenty of fireworks all round, and more sickening banging of the race drum by National (which, on the positive side, ought to bury any hope of a Maori Party support for a future National government).
There was a host of new bills in the ballot today. In addition to Turia's bill, there was also:
- Marine Animals Protection Law Reform Bill (Jeanette Fitzsimons)
- Resource Management (Aquaculture) Amendment Bill (Phil Heatley)
- New Zealand Taxpayer Bill of Rights Bill (Rodney Hide)
- Fireworks Safety Bill (Marian Hobbs)
- Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill (Heather Roy)
I'm trying to get hold of these, and will do another "In The Ballot" post as soon as I have enough.
I note that Hooten's been, in a Maori-should-support-Nats context, been blaming Labour for the F&S Act implying that at least some in National would support repealing it.
ReplyDeleteCan't see it happening under Brash though. But how long will processing the bill take, and how long has Brash got?
... nah, can't see it, actually. It's the ultimate calling of the Nat's recent bluff, though.
And how is that for beginner's luck for Turia?
ReplyDeleteIt happens - Tim Barnett had his Prostitution Reform Bill drawn on its first ballot - but its just icing on the cake.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, there may not be much scope for "beginner's luck"; with a couple of second readings already in the pipeline, and a pile due to come back from committee (section 59, probationary employment, young offenders), this may be the last draw for quite some time (and there's only three more Member's Days until Christmas).
I note that Heather Roy's the new Michael Laws/Tony Steel - the soft target for VSMers keen for another round of voluntary/compulsory roulette. Yawn
ReplyDelete