Parliament has agreed to be a little bit virtual this week. MPs will have permission to remotely participate via large screens in the chamber if they need to isolate. Some from home, some just form their offices (because it's probably wise not to have all of the Executive in a room together).
And it's just in time, as Labour’s Attorney General and Minister for the Environment David Parker has revealed he tested positive. He will be answering questions from National's Gerry Brownlee from home.
Despite the odd set-up the House is expecting to consider a wide array of legislation including a few bills worth note.
Two treaty claims settlement bills for two different iwi are at the top of the order paper. Both are second readings for bills for to Ngāti Rangitihi and Ngāti Maru (Taranaki) claims.
Drug Driving
The Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill will receive a third and final debate, before being passed up the line to the Governor General for royal assent. The Bill allows for the roadside fluids testing of drivers suspected of recent drug use.
Photo: Supplied / Office of the Clerk
The Member’s Bills
Wednesday is the first proper Members’ Day of the year, with bills debated that have been proposed by MPs that are not in the Executive (i.e. members’ bills from back-benchers). There are three members' bills up for debate particularly worth noting, two of them potentially receiving their third and final reading:
Revenge Porn
The Harmful Digital Communications (Unauthorised Posting of Intimate Visual Recording) Amendment Bill is a bill from Labour's Louisa Wall that alters the burden of proof for the posting of ‘intimate visual recordings’ including what is sometimes termed revenge porn.
The current legislation requires the victim to prove harm caused and an intent to harm. This revised version assumes harm is caused and requires the perpetrator to prove they had permission to publish. It will make legal action for publishing much easier.
Sunscreen Standards
The Sunscreen (Product Safety Standard) Bill is that rare beast, a successful members bill championed by a member of the opposition. This one is from National MP Todd Muller and plans to result in product safety standards for sunscreens. The Bill has wide support from MPs, who all seem to agree that sunscreens should (shock horror), actually do what they say on the label.
Abortion Safe Areas
The Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment Bill is another one from Louisa Wall. This Bill puts back into the new abortion law an ability for safe areas to be created (via regulation) around specific providers of abortion related services.
The purpose of this regulation-making power is preventing the harassment of people seeking a health service.
The Bill is set for a committee stage on Wednesday this week. Of note will be whether the MPs, that have been most strongly opposed to the legislation attempt to filibuster the Bill at this stage. Or speak on it at all.
One might typically expect strong debate from the more conservative and evangelical MPs (particularly from the National Party). However, during the previous sitting week those MPs sought no calls and made no speeches on two conscience bills, including the second reading of this safe areas bill, and the third reading of the now passed Bill to ban harmful attempts at sexual identity ‘conversion’.
I don't know whether that silence was party-mandated, from personal choice or by circumstance.