Parliament’s rules reviewed by Standing Orders Committee

26 July, 2017 - The Standing Orders Committee’s latest review of Standing Orders was presented to the House today.

Every three years the committee looks at the rules of the House and how Parliament can work more effectively. This process is called the review of Standing Orders. The review doesn’t just look at the written rules though—it also considers practice, or how things are done at Parliament.

The committee’s report recommends changes to rules and practice in a number of key areas, including a reorganisation of the House’s subject select committees, a change to the way the House debates international treaties, and a number of suggestions for improving the law-making process. A summary of the main points can be found on pages 4 and 5 of the report.

The Rt Hon David Carter, Speaker of the House, chairs the Standing Orders Committee. He said the New Zealand Parliament is internationally respected for its regular review of the rules, in which changes are only agreed if they have overwhelming support across the parties in Parliament.

The Speaker said that with changes in law and social expectations, technological advances, and evolving political culture, regular reviews of Parliament’s effectiveness are essential to keeping Parliament relevant and well-functioning.

The House will debate the committee’s report and vote on the recommended changes before it adjourns for the election on 17 August 2017. If the House adopts the committee’s recommendations, the new rules will be in place for the start of the next Parliament.

Read the full report, including a summary of the main points on pages 4 and 5, here:

https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/reports/document/SCR_74675/review-of-standing-orders-and-petition-2014107-of-malcolm

ENDS

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