For this week at Parliament the plan includes the first Members’ Day since the election.
That’s a sitting day (usually every other week) where the House ignores the Government’s agenda and instead debates laws proposed by back-benchers, including MPs from the opposition.
Members’ bills can be fascinating and powerful or (less often) dry as summer grass. Significant social law changes often stem from members’ bills. Things like gay marriage, anti-smacking, end-of-life choice, and prostitution reform.
So they are worth taking note of, and this week’s bills also include some weighty suggestions. There are bills relating to miscarriage, abortion, porn and cannabis.
On members' day non-government bills get a chance to run at Parliament's ramparts. Photo: ©VNP / Phil Smith
Bereavement Leave for Miscarriages
The Holidays (Bereavement Leave for Miscarriage) Amendment Bill is nearly complete and approved. This week was the committee stage - the final fine-tuning of a bill that happens before a vote for final approval.
The Bill is not complicated. It amends the Holidays Act (2003) to specify an entitlement to bereavement leave in the event of “the unplanned end of a pregnancy by miscarriage or still-birth.”
“The mother and their spouse or partner would be entitled to 3 days’ bereavement leave. This period of leave is consistent with the bereavement leave entitlement that the Holidays Act provides for employees who experience the death of a family member.”
The Bill is being championed by the Labour Party MP and MP for Hutt South, Ginny Andersen.
Labour MP Ginny Andersen in committee Photo: © VNP / Phil Smith
Revenge Porn
The Harmful Digital Communications (Unauthorised Posting of Intimate Visual Recording) Amendment Bill - first reading. A first reading is when MPs decide whether or not to consider a bill more fully.
This new bill would amend the Harmful Digital Communications Act (2015). The Act currently can require digital material deemed harmful to be removed. A punishable offense is currently committed if recordings are posted expressly to cause harm and do cause harm, or when a court order to remove them is not obeyed.
This bill makes the uploading of intimate visual recordings the offense, unless it is done with express permission. The intention would no longer matter.
The Bill is being championed by the Labour Party list MP, Louisa Wall.
Labour MP Louisa Wall as Chair of Social Services Select Committee Photo: VNP / Phil Smith
Abortion Clinic Safe Areas
The Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment Bill - First reading. A first reading is when MPs decide whether or not a bill deserves consideration.
This bill would make an amendment to abortion law that was originally in the 2020 abortion law rewrite but was excised during the committee stage in what might be described as a technical snafu. (The MPs in favour of the clause failed to loudly challenge a voice vote decision against it so never got to test its actual level of support through a full vote.)
The Bill would allow the creation of safe areas up to 150m from health providers to protect providers or users from intimidation, obstruction or being videoed. The safe areas would be created through regulation on a case by case basis.
The Bill is being championed by the Labour Party list MP, Louisa Wall.
The National Party spokesperson for Health Shane Reti questions the Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield and the Minister of Health Chris Hipkins at the Health Select Committee Photo: ©VNP Phil Smith
Medicinal Cannabis
The Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill (No 2) - First reading. Again a first reading is when MPs decide whether or not to consider a bill more fully.
This Bill would regulate a system for the production and distribution of CBD (a non-psychoactive cannabis extract) through pharmacies to people approved by their physician. It would not make raw cannabis legal for anyone.
The Bill is being championed by the National Party list MP and Deputy Leader Shane Reti.
