Easing access for candidates with disabilities and strengthening laws around female genital mutilation are among the members' bills discussed at Parliament this week.
Photo: VNP / Phil Smith
Members' Days take place on alternate Wednesdays at Parliament and for the past five months, that slot has been taken up with the End of Life Choice bill.
The bills that are debated on these days are from MPs who are not ministers and this week, three bills were passed through various stages.
- Green MP Chloe Swarbrick's Election Access Fund Bill which will set up a fund that can be used by any disabled candidate to cover disability-related costs of standing in a general election. The bill passed its second reading.
- The Crimes (Definition of Female Genital Mutilation) Amendment Bill passed its first reading. It's in the name of four MPs, New Zealand First MP Jenny Marcroft, Labour MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Green MP Golriz Ghahraman, and National MP Jo Hayes. The bill will update the definition of female genital mutilation to align current law more closely with international conventions
- National MP Ian McKelvie's Dog Control (Category 1 Offences) Amendment Bill cleared the committee of the whole House stage and is on the list to have its third reading next Member's Day. It will save some time for District Courts by allowing some charges to be heard by Justices of the Peace or Magistrates.
