Introduced on March 27. The bill seeks to ensure that beneficiaries receiving a sole parent rate of main benefit are not treated differently than other beneficiaries. First reading on March 29 with all parties in favour and referred to the social services and community committee. Reported back on May 23 with minor amendments. Second reading May 30 committee stage May 31 and third reading on June 6 with all parties in favour.

Child Support (Pass On) Acts Amendment Bill

Introduced on March 11, 2020. The Bill simplifies penalty rules, introduces payment of financial support by compulsory deduction, imposes a time bar of four years, and inserts a definition of income. First reading on May 6 supported by all parties and sent to the Social Services and Community Committee. Report back date March 4, 2021. Reported back on March 4 with a large number of mainly technical amendments. Also includes changes to the penalties and write-off rules for overdue child support. Second reading on March 11 supported by all parties.  Govt MPs said in response to criticism it was just the start of reforms. Committee stage on March 16 and third reading on March 18 with the support of all parties.

. Child Support Amendment Bill

Introduced on Sept 8, 2021. The bill repeals and replaces the Civil Aviation Act 1990 and the Airport Authorities Act 1966 with a single, modernised statute and contains a range of policy proposals. These include regulation of drones or autonomous aircraft and new security regulation powers. First reading Sept 20 with all parties in agreement and sent to the transport and infrastructure committee. Reported back on June 6 2022 with amendments. Second reading on March 8 with the Greens opposed. Committee stage and third reading on March 29 with Greens still opposed on the grounds there was not enough consideration of the climate change impact of aviation. Civil Aviation Bill

A member’s bill in the name of Russel Norman. The bill requires public fund managers to dispose of investments in companies directly involved in the mining and production of fossil fuels; and prohibits fund managers from investing in companies directly involved in the mining and production of fossil fuels. It would also require public fund managers to actively measure, manage, and report on the fund’s exposure to climate change risks; and reduce the fund’s exposure to these risks over time. Transferred to James Shaw and first reading debate held on Nov 11. The bill was defeated by 73 to 48 with National, NZ First, ACT and United Future opposed. Climate Change (Divestment from Fossil Fuels) Bill

Introduced on Feb 5, 2021. The bill enables a confidential reserve price to be set for auctions in the Emissions Trading Scheme to ensure NZ Units sold at auction are not sold significantly below the prevailing secondary market price. First reading debate completed on Feb 10 and sent to the Environment Committee with ACT opposed. However, National opposed to the process with the Bill to reported back from the Environment Committee by March 4 ahead of the first auction on March 17. National said the govt had been aware of the absence of a confidential reserve price for a year and only at the last moment decided to implement one for the first auction. Reported back from select committee on March 3 with minor changes including the Climate Change Minister having to consult with the Finance Minister and auction monitor on the methodology setting the reserve price in certain circumstances. Passed through remaining stages under urgency on March 9. National withdrew its support at third reading as it wanted the Opposition leader to be consulted on the reserve price. It and ACT the ETS was becoming a tax due to the govt setting the price and not the market.

Climate Change Response (Auction Price) Amendment Bill

Introduced on Oct 24. The bill makes numerous amendments to the Emissions Trading Regime which have been previously announced. Primarily it phases out the industrial allocation of NZUs, introduces an auction system with the potential for a cap and minimum price for NZUs. Attempts to make forestry rules more user-friendly. A new policy is to legislate for the inclusions of biological agriculture emissions from 2025 as a backstop measure. First reading Nov 5 with just ACT opposed. Both National and ACT opposed the earlier than usual report back debate of April 2 from the Environment Committee. After delays was reported back on May 4 with a large number of technical amendments. The major substantive change was to give more ministerial discretion over the phasing out of the free allocation of NZUs depending on circumstances. Second reading on June 2.The govt made a number of amendments in committee stage  on June 3 including deferral of aspects of the forestry changes,  NZU fixed price options and auction system. National opposed saying while they agreed with the thrust of the Bill it should be deferred for a year due to the current economic climate. Third reading on June 16 with National and ACT opposed.

Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Reform) Amendment Bill

Introduced Oct 4, the bill extends a transitional regime due to expire which allows for lesser Emissions Trading Scheme penalties for small forestry owners who cut down trees from pre-1989 forests and fail to surrender or repay units. First reading on Oct 18, supported by all parties except Act and sent to the environment committee to be reported back by Nov 11. Reported back on Nov 11 without changes. Second reading on Nov 16 with all parties in favour. Committee stage and third reading completed under urgency on Nov 22 with all parties in favour.

Climate Change Response (Extension of Penalty Transition for Forestry Activities with Low Volume Emissions Liabilities) Amendment Bill

Introduced on May 26 under Urgency following the Budget. The bill phases out the transitional one-for-two surrender obligation measure from the Emissions Trading Scheme. One-for-two allows non-forestry participants in the ETS to submit only one emissions unit for every two tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent of greenhouse gas  emissions. It was introduced as a transitional measure in 2009 to moderate the initial impacts of the NZ ETS on businesses and the economy. It was extended in 2012 while New Zealand continued to recover from the global financial crisis. The current 50 per cent unit cost will increase to 67 percent from January  2017, then 83 percent from January  2018, with all sectors in the ETS paying the full market price from  January 2019. The current price ceiling which caps units at $25 will remain. Passed through all stages with all parties in agreement. Climate Change Response (Removal of Transitional Measure) Amendment Bill

Introduced on May 8. The Bill sets in law a new emissions reduction target for all greenhouse gases, except methane, to net zero by 2050. The Bill sets a target for 10% reduction in methane emissions by 2030, and a provisional reduction between 24% to 47% by 2050. This will be reviewed by the Climate Change Commission, to be established under the Bill. The Commission will provide advice and recommend five-yearly emissions budgets. The Bill also requires the govt to make climate change adaptation plans. First reading on May 21 with just ACT opposed. National’s support was conditional as they objected to the level of methane reductions being written into law. Referred to the Environment Committee, submissions close on July 16 and Bill to be reported back by Oct 21. Reported back on Oct 21 with targets unchanged. Amendments made to emphasise the powers of the Commission to recommend changes to targets and carbon budgets. Strengthens rules around release of reports and ministerial responses. Reduces the options for using international carbon credits. Second reading Nov 5, committee stage Nov 6 and third reading Nov 7. Supported by all parties except ACT, though David Seymour did not vote against.

Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill

Applies tough criminal sanctions (up to three times the gain) to hard-core cartel behaviour. Now includes amendments proposed by the Minister of Commerce extending the Commerce Act to cover international shipping and aviation. Mainly tidy-up amendments from select committee. Government proposes further amendments. Introduced Nov 2011, first reading July 2012, select committee reported back July 2013. Began its second reading on July 24 after a long delay with Commerce Minister Craig Foss saying he is satisfied the bill now has the right balance in dealing with behaviour which is “truly culpable” and not “legitimate collaborative purpose”. Sets up a process for companies to seek guidance on current practices from the Commerce Commission. Changes to bring shipping under general competition law remain in place. Completed its second reading on November 27 2014 with general support. On December 8, 2015 the Government indicated it would bring in amendments in the committee stage to delete provisions criminalising cartel behaviour. Commerce Minister Paul Goldsmith said he was concerned criminalisation would have a chilling effect on positive collaborative arrangements. Strong civil sanctions would remain as would the proposed clearance regime to allow competitors to seek guidance. He said ACT and United Future had indicated support. Bill the subject of intense lobbying from shipping sector and some exporters who fear the bill will prevent flexibility in vessel sharing arrangements and require too much bureaucratic oversight.  After many years of internal debate the Committee stage was held on August 2. The Govt finally decided to not criminalize cartel behaviour. Due to this NZ First and the Greens opposed the Bill progressing. Labour was supportive of criminalization, but said they supported the wider thrust of the Bill. Ministers indicated they were still working on giving the Commerce Commission more powers to hold market studies. A number of amendments were made around the various tests on behaviour and collaboration with the Govt arguing it had the balance right between beneficial co-operation and preventing cartel behaviour. Third reading completed on August 10 with the Greens and NZ First opposed.

Commerce (Cartels and Other Matters) Amendment Bill