For the first two sitting days this week MPs have spent a good few hours on the Annual Review Debate but today they’ll take a break from that and work on finishing off some other bills instead.
Thursday’s sitting is always shorter running from 2pm - 6pm so the list is shorter than on other days.
Question time - 2pm
Photo: VNP / Phil Smith
It’s rare that question time doesn’t happen and today is not one of those times.
About an hour is set aside for twelve oral questions to Ministers. Opposition MPs attempt to expose flaws in the government while government party MPs provide opportunities for Ministers to boast their accomplishments.
Supplementary (follow-up) questions are expected but the Speaker has final say on whether they’re allowed.
Clarifying the age for starting school - third reading
Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
What:
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This Bill makes a number of changes including: adding student safety to the requirements for registration of private schools; preventing the Education Council from unilaterally changing the qualification requirements for teachers; expanding the provision of distance education through communities of online learning; ensuring that the option of ‘cohort entry’ (beginning in groups, not one by one on their birthday) for new-entrants doesn’t mean children start school before they are 5 years old.
Who:
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Minister of Education Chris Hipkins is in charge of this bill
Why:
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That cohort change will mean that schools will now be able to opt for start-of-term or mid-term cohort entry (of all new students who turned five since the last cohort). This is because some children were starting school up to two months before they turned five (to be in the cohort closest to their birthday).
Resolving earthquake claims- third reading
Photo: RNZ/ Nick Monro
What:
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The Bill sets up a tribunal to help resolve insurance claims between policyholders and insurers, people with insurance and the Earthquake Commission. Claims have to relate to damage caused by the Canterbury earthquakes in 2010 and 2011.
Why:
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The tribunal will aim to help solve long-standing insurance claims to help policyholders and insured people “obtain some closure” so they can move on with their lives.
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First readings are usually a chance to outline the bill and debate its purpose before it’s sent to a select committee for public consultation (if it passes the first reading).
Who:
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Minister for Courts Andrew Little is in charge of this bill.
Curious about how far through they got? Parliament updates the progress in the House on its website here.
