The government is cutting it fine on the Electoral Finance Bill. While it officially has a report back date of January 25, it is actually expected to report back this week. I was expecting it today, but its now looking like Thursday. And with only ten sitting days before the House rises for the year, they're running out of time.
Once reported back, the report must sit on the table of the House for three sitting days. So, if it is reported back on Thursday, it can have its second reading next Thursday. That will leave only four sitting days to deal with the committee stage and third reading. With National and ACT likely to pull out all the stops to disrupt the legislative process (note, not oppose - disrupt. They won't be debating it, but rather trying to make the House unamangeable by abusing procedure, just as they did over the Employment Relations Act back in 1999) and so prevent it from coming into force on January 1 next year, they're going to have their work cut out for them.
Of course, there's always the option of urgency. And with such a tight deadline, it might be able to be justified. But in general, I'd prefer the House to organise its programme properly, rather than ram stuff through at the last minute.
