Politics

Bill to drop party vote threshold drawn from ballot

17:34 pm on 14 November 2013

A bill that would lower the party vote threshold required to get into Parliament from 5% to 4% has been drawn from the Members' ballot.

The bill, in the name of Labour Party MP Iain Lees-Galloway, would change the law before the general election in 2014.

It would also drop the so-called coat-tailing provision that allows a party to bring more MPs into Parliament if it wins an electorate seat.

For example, in 2008 ACT won an electorate seat and was also allocated four list MPs based on its share of the party vote.

In 2012, the Electoral Commission recommended these changes after carrying out a large-scale review of the Mixed Member Proportional voting system (MMP).

However, the Government threw out the proposals, blaming a lack of political consensus.

A second bill, sponsored by New Zealand First's Barbara Stewart, was also drawn from the ballot on Thursday which would give SuperGold cardholders three free visits to the doctor each year.

The bills will be introduced to the House for debate on an upcoming Members' day.