Members' Day

Today is a Members' Day, and after some boring second readings last month, we're back to new bills. First up is Harete Hipango's Health and Safety at Work (Volunteer Associations) Amendment Bill, and then Chris Finlayson's Administration of Justice (Reform of Contempt of Court) Bill. The latter was drafted by the Law Commission, and should really be a government bill. It will almost certainly go to select committee, where they will hopefully remove its odious "sedition for judges" clauses. Next is Anahila Kanongata’a-Suisuiki's Oaths and Declarations (Members of Parliament) Amendment Bill. This allows for MP's oaths of allegiance to be made in languages other than English or Maori, and it has been a long time coming - I look forward to it passing. After that there's Scott Simpson's Litter (Increased Infringement Fee) Amendment Bill, which does exactly what it says on the label, and if the House moves quickly it should make a start on Erica Stanford's Education (Social Investment Funding and Abolition of Decile System) Amendment Bill, which would implement National's policy of robbing poor schools to pay rich ones. There should be a ballot for three or four bills tomorrow.