The biscuit tin ballot for Youth Parliament 2022. The three bills available address reducing the voting age to 16, fighting modern slavery in supply chains, and resolving age-based discrimination against young workers Photo: Parliament
Three new members' bills have been drawn from Parliament's biscuit tin.
The Human Rights (Prohibition of Discrimination on Grounds of Gender Identity or Expression, and Variations of Sex Characteristics) Amendment Bill, under the name of Elizabeth Kerekere, would prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or expression and variations of sex characteristics, under the Human Rights Act.
The Medicines (Exemption for Authorised Prescribers) Amendment Bill, under the name of National MP Penny Simmonds, would allow nurse practitioners to obtain unapproved medicines in the same way as other medical practitioners.
The Restoring Citizenship Removed By Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 Bill, under the name of Green MP Teanau Tuiono, would make Samoans whose New Zealand citizenship was removed by a 1982 law automatically eligible for citizenship.
They would not have to go through residency or citizenship application processes, and the government would need to consult with the Samoan government on amending the Treaty of Friendship.