Legal Beagle by Graeme Edgeler

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Legal Beagle: The Review of Standing Orders

8 Responses

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    Sorry about the footnotes :-)

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • Steven Peters,

    "during various votes on the same-sex marriage legislation, where people watching from home (and, I understand, from overflow rooms in the Parliamentary precinct), spent several minutes watching a basically blank screen while elevator music was playing".

    Our very own North Korea moment. I cannot see MPs' wanting to be seen, really seen, voting against equality, but I hope I am wrong.

    CHCH • Since Oct 2012 • 96 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    Who introduced the Financial Veto into Standing Orders, Graeme? Was it Labour giving with one hand while taking with the other? Or is this odious concept a National creation?

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    Who introduced the Financial Veto into Standing Orders, Graeme? Was it Labour giving with one hand while taking with the other? Or is this odious concept a National creation?

    Changes to Standing Orders are done by consensus, and usually by unanimity.

    Something in the nature of the financial veto has always existed in New Zealand, and it's actually an improvement over what used to be there. Previously, Parliament couldn't even discuss money matters without the government agreeing. It can now discuss them, at least, it's just that I'd like this to go further.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Graeme Edgeler,

    Changes to Standing Orders are done by consensus, and usually by unanimity.

    IOW, it's extremely unlikely that the current regime will acquiesce to the removal of the financial veto given that its existence has allowed them to nuke private members' bills that they find offensive.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Before MMP, the government always had a majority on every matter (except in the case of a rebellion by their own MPs) and the need to veto legislation would never arise.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    In practice the removal of the financial veto would merely force minor government parties to explicitly kill off bills, and not let the Finance Minister carry the can. If I was English I'd be pretty happy to lose it.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Brown,

    Go Graeme. Good stuff.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2013 • 137 posts Report Reply

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