Alternate Wednesdays in the House are used to debate bills from MPs who are not Ministers.
They’re called member’s bills and today’s ones range from triangular employment to kiwisaver for foster children.
Before that happens, question time, a general debate and a bill on water in Gore will be worked through.
Members' bills are drawn at random from a biscuit tin. Photo: Supplied / Office of the Clerk
The House will sit from 2pm to 10pm and while it has a schedule of things to work through the plan below is subject to change.
Question time - 2pm
Twelve questions to Ministers crafted to catch them out or support their achievements.
Supplementary (follow-up) questions follow at the discretion of the Speaker.
The questions have to be lodged with the Clerk’s office in the morning so they can be checked and are then published a couple hours before the House sits on Parliament’s website here.
Taupatupatu Whānui - The General Debate 3pm(ish)
What
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Twelve speeches of up to five minutes in length. Bigger parties get more speeches.
Why
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The general debate exists so MPs can bring up issues that debates on legislation don’t allow them to cover, so it can range widely. Sometimes each party coordinates their talking points but that’s optional. There’s fewer rules generally and it can be both raucous and entertaining.
Leader of the National Party Simon Bridges during the general debate. Photo: VNP / Phil Smith
Gore Water - committee stage
What:
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The first reading of the Gore District Council (Otama Water Supply) Bill
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This is a local bill and allows the Gore District Council to transfer ownership/responsibility of a water scheme to those who use the scheme. The Bill is needed because the Local Government Act 2002 says local governments are not allowed to transfer water schemes to non-local government organisations.
Why:
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When a council wants to do something outside of the legislative framework that they operate in or change an historical arrangement that’s affected by an Act of Parliament. Local bills are usually supported through their first reading by all parties to allow feedback from the public at the select committee stage. They have a slightly different process through Parliament because of their local nature.
Members' bills
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The third reading of the Arbitration Amendment Bill, in the name of National MP Andrew Bayly. It seeks to: reverse the current rebuttable presumption of open proceedings (in line with overseas practice); resolve uncertainty regarding whether an arbitration clause in a trust deed would be binding.
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The committee stage of the Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill in the name of Labour MP Kieran McAnulty. The Bill aims to further protect the rights of employees that are employed by one company but managed by another (for example temporary labour contractees). Committee stages can be the longest stage of a bill in the House as there's a chance for MPs to make multiple speeches.
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KiwiSaver (Foster Parents Opting in for Children in their Care) Amendment Bill (second reading) in the name of National’s Hamish Walker will allow a foster parent (or kin carer) to open a kiwisaver account for a foster child in their care.
That's the plan. You can catch up with how far through the House gets on Parliament's website.
