As a democratic society, we can influence legislation the Government is proposing through the Select Committee process.
Currently, there are a few open submission opportunities where you might consider making a submission. Parliament's website has a guide on how to make a select committee submission which we encourage you to read.
Evidence (Giving Evidence of Family Violence) Amendment Bill
This bill aims to extend the range of possible protections for parties and witnesses giving evidence of sexual assaults or family harm in the Family Court. These protections would mirror those available to similarly vulnerable complainants and witnesses in criminal proceedings, such as children and sexual violence complainants.
The bill would extend these protections by amending the Evidence Act 2006. It would amend the Act by inserting a new clause that would ensure that a party or witness in a Family Court proceeding, where evidence is being given of family violence, is entitled to give evidence in one or more specified alternative ways.
Submissions Close: 19 December 2024
Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill
The purpose of the bill is to set out the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in legislation, and require, where relevant, those principles to be used when interpreting legislation. The bill proposes the following principles:
Principle 1: The Government of New Zealand has full power to govern, and Parliament has full power to make laws. They do so in the best interests of everyone, and in accordance with the rule of law and the maintenance of a free and democratic society.
Principle 2: The Crown recognises the rights that hapū and iwi had when they signed the Treaty/te Tiriti. The Crown will respect and protect those rights. Those rights differ from the rights everyone has a reasonable expectation to enjoy only when they are specified in Treaty settlements.
Principle 3: Everyone is equal before the law and is entitled to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination. Everyone is entitled to the equal enjoyment of the same fundamental human rights without discrimination.
Submissions Close: 7 January 2025
Victims of Sexual Violence (Strengthening Legal Protections) Legislation Bill
Amendment Paper 215 proposes to amend the Victims of Sexual Violence (Strengthening Legal Protections) Legislation Bill by inserting new subclauses into clause 8 of the bill. Clause 8 of the bill would amend Section 203 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011, which deals with the automatic suppression of the identity of complainants in sexual cases. The Amendment Paper would extend the application of Section 203 to include all offences of sexual nature.
Amendment Paper 216 would also amend the bill by inserting new clause 6A. New clause 6A would amend section 200 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011. Section 200 enables courts to make orders that suppress the identity of defendants. The amendment would, in the case of an adult defendant who is convicted of a sexual offence, only allow orders to be made with the agreement of the complainant (unless they cannot be contacted or, if contacted, they are unable or unwilling to engage with the court).
Submissions Close: 23 January 2025
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