Wednesday, September 19, 2012



Member's Day

Today is a Member's Day, and one with a couple of interesting transparency-related bills on the Order paper. First up there is the third reading of the Hutt City Council (Graffiti Removal) Bill, which should whizz through. Following that, there is David Clark's Minimum Wage Amendment Bill, which while worthy will be voted down by National because it will help the poor not the rich. Following that, there's Shane Jones' Ombudsmen (Cost Recovery) Amendment Bill and Darien Fenton's Local Government (Council-Controlled Organisations) Amendment Bill, both of which might make it to select committee for consideration, unless Peter Dunne adopts a specifically anti-transparency position. Finally, if things go well, the house should be able to make a start on Winston Peters' Reserve Bank of New Zealand (Amending Primary Function of Bank) Amendment Bill, which National will vote down because it is heretical to their outdated NeoLiberal economic orthodoxy.

There should be a ballot for three bills tomorrow morning. As always, I'm looking forward to see what will be drawn.