Parliament
Local authorities urge MPs to support alcohol harm minimisation bill
A proposed member’s bill addressing a power imbalance that prevents communities taking steps to develop public health measures on alcohol use could bypass the ballot process if enough MPs agreed. Audio
If you miss a major reform, wait a day or two...
In the current Parliament major reforms are coming along almost as frequently as buses. This week there are two separate and equally momentous legislative reform bills on the agenda. Audio
The Budget: Shades of debate
MPs spend many hours shouting past each other about the budget, but have tactics and objectives behind all the hubbub. Phil Smith dissects the year’s first budget debate-fest - the eight hour long… Audio
Hanging messages on Pae Ora
MPs have been getting down and dirty in the critical mud-wrestling phase of legislation to reform the public health system, the Pae Ora (Healthy futures) Bill. Audio
Aged Care workers call for increased minimum staff levels
Parliament’s health select committee hears a cry for help from workers in aged care residential facilities that staffing levels in their sector are unsafe and failing people. Audio
Last chance for MPs to edit health reform bill
Time is running out for changes to be made to proposed major health reform as the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill is in its committee stage. Audio
Playing catch-up to protect kids from digital harm
The MP behind a Member's Bill which targets online grooming of children by adult predators hopes for it to be widened in scope to include offline or ‘real life’. Audio
Australian election reaction - Stephen Mills
Australians are waking up to life with a new Prime Minister, with Anthony Albanese and Labor ousting Scott Morrison's incumbent Liberal National coalition in yesterday's election. Political… Audio
Reading Everest: Notes on Budgets
The Budget gets presented, debated and commented on more than most best sellers but like A Brief History of Time very few people have the time and energy to read all of it. Audio
The not-the-budget bills
The budget wasn’t the only thing at Parliament this week. There was also legislation on surrogacy, free speech, political conflicts of interest, and sexual harassment. Audio
Question Time: How to get it straight
Question Time works best if the MPs ask tight, non-political questions. Straight questions are more likely to get straight answers, so they’re kept as tight as possible but not always by choice. Audio
Oddity notes on budget week at Parliament
Why is the Budget usually on a Thursday, why just before a sitting break, and why is the debate on it usually interrupted by urgent business? Audio
Parliament's non-budget week
It’s budget week this week at Parliament, but plenty of other things are happening as well.
Oiling the democratic machine
The House sits down with the Clerk of the House of Representatives, David Wilson, whose team runs the machinery of Parliament. Audio
When courts tell parliament 'no', what next?
The Bill of Rights (Declarations of Inconsistency) Amendment Bill is the sort of legislation that constitutional law experts absolutely love but that may bore us to tears, until we realise it’s… Audio
How ministers reach a decision
An intern in the office of the MP for Te Atatū, Phil Twyford, interviews him about his job and the decision-making process behind his job as a minister. Audio
Special debate on draft version of Resource Management Act replacement
Parliament shows its flexibility during an extended sitting when Special Debate will take place on a couple of complex items, notably the Natural and Built Environments Bill exposure draft. Audio