Key Takeaways
- The Electoral Amendment Bill was passed under urgency, with significant changes to general election rules, including an earlier enrolment deadline and a ban on prisoner voting.
- The government argued that the changes were necessary to address slow vote-counting times, but the opposition claimed that the bill was designed to tilt the game in the government’s favour.
- The Climate Change Response (2050 Target and Other Matters) Amendment Bill was also passed under urgency, with a new target for biogenic methane reduction that is nearly half the previous target.
- The opposition expressed concerns about the methodology behind the new target and the lack of public input due to the bill skipping select committee.
- The two bills consumed a significant amount of Parliament’s time, with the House sitting for nearly 15 hours on Friday to debate and pass the legislation.
Introduction to the Electoral Amendment Bill
The Electoral Amendment Bill was a major point of contention in Parliament’s penultimate sitting week of the year. The bill was given the urgency treatment for its second reading and committee stage, which meant that it was fast-tracked through the legislative process without the usual scrutiny and debate. The bill proposed significant changes to general election rules, including shifting the enrolment deadline to 13 days before election day and reinstating a wider ban on prisoner voting. The government argued that the earlier enrolment cut-off was needed to address slow vote-counting times, with Minister of Justice Paul Goldsmith stating that the wait for official results could be even longer due to coalition negotiations under MMP.
Debate on the Electoral Amendment Bill
The debate on the Electoral Amendment Bill was contentious, with Labour’s Ginny Andersen setting a combative tone by describing the bill as a "crafty sandpaper-on-the-cricket-ball-type move" designed to tilt the game in the government’s favour. Andersen questioned whether the change would even speed up the count, citing the Electoral Commission’s statement that there would be no difference in the time it took to count the votes. Associate Justice Minister and ACT leader David Seymour attempted to flip the argument by comparing Labour’s 2022 electoral law change to the current changes, but the opposition remained unconvinced. The committee stage of the bill was protracted, with the House sitting late into the night and resuming the next morning to complete the debate.
The Climate Change Response (2050 Target and Other Matters) Amendment Bill
The Climate Change Response (2050 Target and Other Matters) Amendment Bill was another major flashpoint of the week. The bill received the VIP urgency treatment, passing through all debating stages without select committee, which meant that there was no opportunity for public input. The bill amends New Zealand’s targeted biogenic methane reduction, reducing the target from 24-47 percent to 14-27 percent by 2050. The opposition expressed concerns about the methodology behind the new target and the lack of public input, with the first opposition speech hinting at a gritty battle to come. The bill’s passage consumed a significant amount of Parliament’s time, with the House sitting for nearly 15 hours on Friday to debate and pass the legislation.
Impact of the Bills on Parliament
The passage of the two bills had a significant impact on Parliament, with the House sitting for extended hours to debate and pass the legislation. The justice spokespeople, in particular, had a gruelling week, with four justice-related bills put through urgency. The Electoral Amendment Bill and the Climate Change Response (2050 Target and Other Matters) Amendment Bill were the most contentious bills of the week, consuming a hefty chunk of Parliament’s sitting time. The opposition’s concerns about the bills were not addressed, and the lack of public input on the climate change bill was a major point of contention. The passage of the bills highlights the challenges of the legislative process, particularly when bills are passed under urgency without the usual scrutiny and debate.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Electoral Amendment Bill and the Climate Change Response (2050 Target and Other Matters) Amendment Bill were two significant pieces of legislation that were passed under urgency in Parliament’s penultimate sitting week of the year. The bills proposed significant changes to general election rules and New Zealand’s targeted biogenic methane reduction, respectively. The opposition expressed concerns about the methodology behind the new targets and the lack of public input, but the government argued that the changes were necessary to address slow vote-counting times and meet climate change targets. The passage of the bills highlights the challenges of the legislative process, particularly when bills are passed under urgency without the usual scrutiny and debate. As Parliament breaks for the year, the impact of these bills will be closely watched, and the opposition will likely continue to raise concerns about the changes.