Introduced on Nov 22. The bill requires ACC to report on how Māori and other population groups are accessing the accident compensation scheme and brings forward eligibility for the minimum rate of weekly compensation from the sixth to the second week of incapacity. First reading on Nov 22 under urgency with National opposed and sent to the education and workforce Committee. Reported back on April 13 with minor amendments. Second reading on May 11 with National and Act opposed. Committee stage on May 16. Third reading on June 1 with National and Act opposed.

Accident Compensation (Access Reporting and Other Matters) Amendment Bill

Introduced on May 11 and given its first reading on June 2 with general support. The bill lays down the principles of financial management of the Accident Compensation Corporation. It has two broad objectives: to improve the framework for determining how ACC’s levied Accounts are funded so it more transparent, has a longer-term focus, and supports more stable levies; and to ensure that the residual levy is not over-collected. Labour supported the bill being sent to select committee but argued it was fairly pointless as it just seemed to codify current practice. Report from Transport and Industrial Relations Committee due by November 3. Reported back on September 14 with only minor changes and given its second reading on September 19.  Third reading completed on September 23. Labour and Greens remain dismissive of the bill, but only NZ First voted against in protest at high levy rates. Accident Compensation (Financial Responsibility and Transparency) Amendment Bill

Introduced on Nov 30. The Bill brings maternal birth injuries under ACC cover. It also makes 5 additional policy changes and 7 technical changes. Among the policy changes are restoring the more claimant-friendly test for work-related gradual process, disease, or infection cover, reducing the threshold for injury-related hearing loss cover from 6% to 5% and increasing the size of the ACC Board. First reading on Dec 14 supported by all parties and referred to the Education and Workforce Committee. Reported back on June 28 with amendments including the extension of  the definition of birth industries. Second reading on July 27 with all parties in favour. Committee stage completed on Sept 22 and third reading on Sept 27 with all parties in favour.

Accident Compensation (Maternal Birth Injury and Other Matters) Amendment Bill

Introduced on July 30, a member’s Bill in the name of Paulo Garcia. The Bill broadens the range of circumstances that give employers the right to apply for a review of the Accident Compensation Corporation’s decisions related to a claim. Transferred to Simon Watts. First reading on April 7 and voted down with just National and ACT in favour.
Accident Compensation (Notice of Decisions) Amendment Bill

Introduced April 12. The bill amends the Accident Compensation Act 2001 to address regulatory duplication, gaps, errors, and inconsistencies within and between different pieces of legislation, and by keeping the regulatory system up to date and relevant. Most notably it addresses issues around entitlements for ACC payments and superannuation. First reading completed on May 9 with all parties in agreement and sent to the  Education and Workforce Committee. Reported back from select committee on Nov 9 with no major changes. Second reading completed on Dec 11 with all parties in support. Committee stage completed on March 13 and third reading on April 11 with all parties in favour.  Accident Compensation Amendment Bill

Aims at a more competitive and efficient accounting market by: changing the rules to allow more people to do statutory audits; replacing legislative references to chartered accountants to qualified statutory accountants; reducing restrictions on audit firms; requiring independent assurance of financial statements for medium and large charities; and allowing the Institute of Chartered Accountants more freedom in how to structure itself (including the formation of an Australasian accountants body). Shortly after the bill’s referral to select committee, Minister Foss asked the committee to look at weaknesses in the proposals which may allow sub-standard bodies or individuals to be registered and a lack of checks on those registered maintaining standards. Introduced Dec 2, 2013. Completed first reading by 106 to 15 with Greens and Mana opposed on Jan 28, sent to the Commerce Committee for consideration. The bill was reported back from select committee on May 20 implementing many of the recommendations of the Institute. Second reading debate was interrupted when the House rose on July 3. Completed its committee stage on October 28 with minor amendment and support of all parties. Divided into three bills.  Accounting Infrastructure Reform Bill

Introduced March 22. A member’s bill in the name of Chris Finlayson. It proposes an overhaul of the law of contempt in the courts by codifying common law. Completed first reading on May 2 with all parties in support and referred to the Justice Committee. Justice Minister Andrew Little adopted it as a Government Bill. Renamed Contempt of Court Bill. Reported back on April 5 with a number of changes. These included reducing the penalties for juror contempt, the rules around publication of suppressed information and removing the offence of scandalising the court. Second reading interrupted on May 29 with Little indicating he was considering reinserting some form of protection for judges and the courts from extreme criticism. Committee stage interrupted on Aug 7 with Little introducing an amendment making it an offence to make a false statement about a judge. He said this was narrower than the old ‘scandalising’ offence and would not make it an offence to be critical of a judge’s decisions. Committee stage completed on Aug 8 and third reading on August 2 with National and ACT opposed due to the protection of judges amendments. Administration of Justice (Reform of Contempt of Court) Bill

Member’s Bill in the name of Maureen Pugh introduced on July 30. The Bill seeks to allow the Director-General of Conservation to grant access for removal of specified trees irreversibly damaged by an adverse weather event from within the conservation estate, outside of national parks. First reading on April 7 and voted down with just National and ACT in favour.

Adverse Weather-affected Timber Recovery on Conservation Lands Bill

Member’s bill in the name of NZ First MP Barbara Stewart. The bill would require Parent Category migrants to have health insurance on arrival and to maintain it for 10 years; remove fringe benefit tax from health insurance; and introduce a SuperGold card health insurance premium rebate. Bill transferred to Winston Peters. First reading debate interrupted on Nov 11. National and the Greens indicated they would oppose which means it will be defeated on the next Members Day.Voted down on Dec 2 with National, Greens, ACT and United Future opposed. Affordable Healthcare Bill

Introduced on August 11, 2015. The bill extends protection for confidential information given in  an application registering an innovative trade name product from five to eight years, and also expands the scope of data protection coverage to include confidential information provided in support of applications to register non-innovative trade name products and uses. First reading interrupted on September 15 with parties indicating support but debate over the length of protections. Completed the first reading on October 13 with just the Greens opposed describing it as a TPP type bill which give too much patent protection. The Primary Production Committee is considering the bill. Deadline for report back from select committee extended from April 14 to June 17. Reported back on June 15. The Greens opposed the bill in the report back saying amongst other things it promotes the use of pesticides. Completed its second reading on Sept 20 with the Greens and Maori Party opposed and committee stage completed on October 10.  Third reading completed on November 2 with the Maori Party and Greens opposed. Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill