Members' Day

Today is a Members' Day, and after the flood of first readings we've had recently, we're now into the boring bit. First up are two National Party bills which have come back from select committee - Alastair Scott's Crimes (Increased Penalty for Providing Explosive to Commit Crime) Amendment Bill and Brett Hudson's Social Security (Stopping Benefit Payments for Offenders who Repeatedly Fail to Comply with Community Sentences) Amendment Bill. In both cases the select committee has gone "yeah, nah", pointing at significant flaws in the bills. Whether they pass or not is going to depend on New Zealand First, and how much stupidity they're willing to indulge in to appear "tough on crime" and appeal to elderly arseholes.

Once they're out of the way, the House should move on to Denise Lee's misnamed Employment (Pay Equity and Equal Pay) Bill (which is intended to make it harder for women to get equal pay) and Harete Hipango's Health and Safety at Work (Volunteer Associations) Amendment Bill. If the House moves really quickly, it may make a start on Chlöe Swarbrick's Election Access Fund Bill, but it really depends on how much time they waste on those second readings. There should be a ballot for at least one bill tomorrow.