Today is probably the second to last Private Members day of this Parliament and past patterns would indicate that none of the private members bills currently on the order paper have much life left in them.

By convention the government decides which legislation will remain on the books when parliament is dissolved.

Private Members bills very rarely go forward and thus it is likely that this is the end of the road for most of the legislation which will be debated today.

Leader of the House Roger Sowry says that the legislative programme for the rest of the year will not be revealed - but he added that it has been settled.

Mr Sowry said the exercise of deciding which bills to carry forward to the next parliament had not yet begun.

Today's private members bills are.

Taonga Maori Protection Bill - Tuku Morgan (NZ First) - consideration of report

Paid Parental Leave Bill - Laila Harre (Alliance) - Consideration of report - this bill formerly had considerable support and the government was forced to allow its passage but it has since been snookered by the family tax credits introduced in last budget. Laila Harre's bill proposed funding parental leave from a levy on employers. Labour support the principle but wish it to be funded through general taxation.

Energy Efficiency Bill - Jeanette Fitzsimons (Greens) - Consideration of report - sets up an energy efficiency authority.

Conservation (Protection of Trout as a Non-Commercial Species) Amendment Bill - Mark Burton - Labour - Consideration of report.

Three Local Bills are also on the order paper today and are likely to be passed through all remaining stages very quickly. These are:

Marlborough County Council Empowering Act Repeal Bill
New Plymouth Recreation and Racecourse Reserve Bill
Napier Borough Endowment Amendment Bill

Scoop will provide ongoing coverage of today's Parliamentary session in the Headlines wire.

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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