Wednesday, April 04, 2012



Member's Day

Today is a Member's Day, and one which might see some progress made. Tau Henare has delayed the third reading of his Employment Relations (Secret Ballot for Strikes) Amendment Bill, so first up is Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi Military Manoeuvres Act Repeal Bill, followed by the second reading of Michael Woodhouse's Fair Trading (Soliciting on Behalf of Charities) Amendment Bill. Both are non-controversial and should fly through. After that its Kennedy Graham's Sustainable Biofuel Bill. This received its first reading back in 2009, then spent the next two years buried in committee before finally emerging last year with a recommendation that it not be passed as sustainability should be left to the market. National will vote it down as part of their anti-environment agenda. And then, if there's time, the real fun begins: Metiria Turei's bill to strengthen Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act and Ruth Dyson's bill to restore democracy in Canterbury. Both will probably fail - but the government will look appalling in voting them down.

There will be a ballot tomorrow if the House gets on to any first readings.