A ballot for three member's Bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn:
- Social Security (Pathway to Work) Amendment Bill (Carmel Sepuloni)
- Climate Change (Divestment from Fossil Fuels) Bill (Russel Norman)
- Telecommunications (Interception Capability and Security) Amendment Bill (Clare Curran)
Sepuloni's bill raises benefit income-test thresholds for the first time in decades, allowing beneficiaries to work part time for more than five hours a week. Norman's bill requires public funds, such as the Cullen Fund, EQC and ACC, to divest from fossil fuels. Curran's one sounds good from the title, but all it does is add a technical advisory board to advise the Minister on decisions - which is a perfect example of Labour's position on the spy state: not to end it, but to promise that it will be
managed better.
