The first fast tracked members’ bill

Until now, members’ bills only get debated in the House if they get drawn at random from the ballot.

However for a few years no Standing Order 288 allows for a member’s bill to be automatically out onto the order paper if 61 MPs who are not Ministers state in writing they support it. In practice this means it has support from both government and opposition MPs.

This has now happened. Stuff reports:

National and Labour party MPs have teamed up to fast-track lawmaking that will tighten regulations to stop modern slavery.

Labour MP Camilla Belich and National MP Greg Fleming have co-sponsored the Modern Slavery Bill. It would mean that large companies report on how they have identified or mitigated the risk of slavery being used in supply chains they are part of.

Great to see National and Labour MPs working together.