The So Called John Banks Bill Makes Progress

A bill reforming local government electoral law passed its first hurdle in Parliament on Tuesday evening.

The Local Electoral Amendment Bill (No 2) seeks to update the current law.

Local Government Minister David Carter said the relevant legislation had not kept pace with national electoral law and it needed to be modernised to ensure greater transparency in the system.

Annette King said Labour would be supporting the bill, but it should be called the John Banks Bill as it was about straightening up the behaviour of the ACT MP and his treatment of donations from Kim Dotcom and SkyCity that he declared had been received anonymously after he had solicited the donations.

The bill was sent to the Justice and Electoral Committee with a report back date of March 11 2013 on a voice vote.

The House rose at 10pm interrupting the committee stage debate on part three of the Legislation Bill.

Earlier in the evening the committee stage of the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill was completed and it was reported with amendment by 61 to 57 with National, ACT and United Future supporting.

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