Bills under Urgency
I’ve previously blogged that passing bills under urgency without select committee scrutiny, will lead to flaws in the laws that will need to be corrected later.
It is of greater concern that the bills to be debated have not been made available to MPs at the first available opportunity. The Herald reports:
More pertinently, when it comes to advance copies, National says its hands are tied by Parliament’s arcane rules which do not allow the Government at this stage to “publish” bills before they are formally introduced into the House. Moreover, National says Labour is well aware of this.
If this is true, then the rules should be changed. I am sure all parties would agree. Allow the Government to put them up on the Government website as a proposed Bill, so MPs and the public can see it prior to formal introduction.
I understand that copies of at least some of the bills were distributed last night, which is good.
December 11th, 2008 at 7:02 am
Situations Vacant; Human Rights Commissioner. One that has had a tongue for at least nine years (not just nine days)
December 11th, 2008 at 7:08 am
Select Committees are the engine room of Parliament.
December 11th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Is it not hilarious. Labour are complaining about the unnecessary secrecy surrounding bills being introduced under urgency a week after it was revealed they kept massive ACC debt a secret.
December 11th, 2008 at 8:35 am
What rule is it, DPF? I know my way around Standing Orders okay, and I cannot find one. If they were to formally introduce the bill there might be an issue, but where is the prohibition on telling people what the bill will be prior to introduction?
December 11th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Quite right, Graeme.
The relevant Standing Orders would seem to be 263 and 270.
263 Copies of bills
(1) On the introduction of a bill, the member in charge must provide printed copies of the bill to the Clerk for circulation.
270 Introduction of Government bills
A Government bill is introduced by the Leader of the House informing the Clerk on any working day or by 1 pm on any sitting day of the Government’s intention to introduce the bill.
These are minimum rules to be followed – they don’t prohibit prior publication.
December 11th, 2008 at 8:53 am
There are some real drongos, wankers and others without any conscience [psychotics] entrenched in bureaucracies that require some kind of urgent legislation to limit their destructiveness. If they are presently destructive what is wrong with some bills being passed with urgency?