This week Parliament commences a three-week sitting block which is largely geared towards the delivery of the Budget by Finance Minister Grant Robertson on 18 May.
In the eyes of many political observers, the Budget is the only show in town for the next little while, but there’s more to it than just that, so The House is here to summarise the week neatly.
Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni is expected to front for questioning by MPs in her role as the Minister of Social Development & Employment during the annual review debate this week. Photo: ©VNP / Phil Smith
Tuesday is a bit of a ‘rats and mice’ day, including a motion to cancel the Mt Albert by-election following the recent resignation of the electorate’s MP, former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Because her departure from Parliament fell within six months of the October 14 General Election, it doesn't automatically trigger a by-election. For there not to be a by-election, a majority of MPs must approve, however this should be a formality.
Following that, the Appropriation (2021/22 Confirmation & Validation) Bill Committee stage, or annual review debate, is to resume after it began early last month. The annual review debate is the butt-end of the Budget process, and involves MPs questioning ministers in the debating chamber over the spending, performance and outcomes within their purviews in relation to the budget plans announced nearly two years ago. Up for grilling on Tuesday are the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Social Development & Employment.
Later in the day, there are to be second readings for a bunch of Government bills including the Grocery Industry Competition Bill, the Worker Protection (Migrant and Other Employees) Bill, and the Self-contained Motor Vehicles Legislation Bill, a piece of legislation that looks to tackle the problem of careless disposal of human waste by so-called Freedom Campers.
By Wednesday, after debating a motion to appoint a Deputy Judicial Conduct Commissioner, MPs will turn their attention back to the annual review debate (which in total is to take up ten hours of chamber time). Ministers in the following portfolios will be under the spotlight: Local Government; Immigration; Police; Oceans & Fisheries; and Housing.
After those grillings wrap up, MPs are to debate the third reading of the Counter-Terrorism Acts (Designations and Control Orders) Amendment Bill, which is also down for Committee Stage debate on Tuesday. One part of this legislation would amend the Terrorism Suppression Act to clarify how the designation scheme - under which the Prime Minister is enabled to designate an individual or a group as a terrorist entity - applies to individuals who have been designated as terrorist entities and who are imprisoned. The second part of the Bill would amend the Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Act to include a broader range of objectionable publications in the eligibility test for a control order, among other changes.
On Thursday, there is to be a special debate on local issues. Special debates offer a chance for broad participation by MPs on issues considered important to New Zealanders. In this case, they are to zero in on issues confronting local communities, which we might expect to include disaster resilience matters given the weather disasters which hit various regions of the country in recent months. In Government business following this, the Social Workers Registration Legislation Amendment Bill is scheduled for its first reading.
