The Week In Parliament for 18 October 2015

Labour leader Andrew Little runs into trouble with the Speaker, who rules Mr Little's Health Homes Guarantee Bill - which was drawn from the members' ballot on Thursday - was too similar to a previous bill debated within the last calendar year, something the Speaker said was a breach of Standing Orders; Health Minister Jonathan Coleman also receives a rebuke from the Speaker; Government pats itself on the back over the TPPA trade agreement, as well as its reported budget surplus - although the source of the surplus was the subject of skepticism from the Opposition; Health Committee kicks off its inquiry into public attitudes towards euthanasia, and hears from former Labour MP Maryan Street; Sue Moroney presents her members' bill calling for an increase in paid parental leave from 18 to 26 weeks to the Government Administration Committee; Public law specialist Mai Chen makes a submission to the Justice & Electoral Committee's inquiry into the 2014 election; Government passes three bills including an extension to the validity period for NZ passports from 5 to 10 years, and an update to laws governing pokie machines.