Another batch of Member's Bills currently in the ballot. Previous batches are indexed here:
Supercity Referendum bills (various): there are four of these - one for Auckland and Waitakere (Phil Twyford), one for Rodney and North Shore (Rajen Prasad), one for Papakura and Franklin (George Hawkins), and one for Manukau and the ARC (Carol Beaumont). Each requires that the reorganisation of the relevant local authorities be approved by a referendum of its residents, mirroring the provisions of the Local Government Act 2002. The bills are a reaction to the government's Auckland Supercity proposals, and have no chance at all of passing. But they do clearly highlight the concerns of Aucklanders about not being given a proper say on the future of their local government.
Christchurch International Airport Protection Bill (Clayton Cosgrove): this bill is a response to noise concerns about Christchurch International Airport by local residents. It would "resolve" those concerns by stomping all over them. The bill would ensure that no provision of the RMA could be used to limit the operation of Christchurch airport on the basis of aircraft noise, and require the Christchurch City Council to issue a new District Plan prohibiting "noise sensitive activities" (meaning residential development, schools, hospitals, or pretty much anything involving people living) within a moving boundary which will expand as the airport gets louder. From the maps on the Christchurch City Council's CityPlan site some of this area is already occupied by residential housing (see maps 30 and 31); no compensation would be payable for any loss resulting from this.
This is an awful bill. Its so awful, National might even vote for it. The only thing stopping them is that the victims are in Gerry Brownlee's electorate.
Customs and Excise (Cruelty to Animals) Amendment Bill (Sue Kedgley): this would amend the Customs and Excise Act 1996 to make products made with cat and dog fur (and the furs themselves) prohibited imports, which is extensively farmed by cruel methods in Asia. The EU, Australia and the US all have such bans - but none of them have a free trade agreement with China.
As usual, I'll have more bills as I acquire them.
