Jeanette Fitzsimons Valedictorian: 11th February, 2010

Jeanette Fitzsimons gave her valedictorian speech in Parliament yesterday, in between the debate on the Prime Minister's statement that he gave on Tuesday:

Debate on the Prime Minister's statement continues today.

Since Wednesday was Members Day even though there was a general debate going on, a single member's bill was drawn from the ballot. It was Paul Quinn's Electoral (Disqualification of Convicted Prisoners) Amendment Bill. Going by the title, this bill would remove voting rights from convicted prisoners in New Zealand. More details on the bill to come.

It's back to business resuming last year's unfinished legislative programme in the House after further debate on the Prime Minister's statement.

The Hon Simon Power introduced his Child and Family Protection Bill in the House after the debate on Wednesday night, that attempts to make "it clear that a protection order applies for the benefit of a child of an applicant until the age of 17, unless the order is sooner discharged. It allows a young person reaching the age of 17 who knows they will no longer be protected to apply to the Court for the order to continue for their benefit until they no longer live with the applicant or until the order is discharged... (it also) clarifies that a protection order that has not lapsed or been discharged continues for the benefit of any child of a deceased applicant until the age of 17."

After the first reading of the Child and Family Protection Bill and the second reading of the judicial matters bill, the second reading of Paula Bennett's Children, Young Persons and their Families (Youth Courts Jurisdiction and Orders) Amendment Bill is next on the agenda. This bill seeks to "amend the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 to extend the Youth Court’s jurisdiction to cover the most serious 12- and 13-year-old offenders, and to allow a wider range of sentencing orders to be made for dealing with offenders. These orders would be tailored to the individual offender, and could include a requirement to attend a rehabilitative or education programme, such as a parenting programme, mentoring programme, or alcohol and drug rehabilitation programme."

Click here for a full list of select committee meetings scheduled for today.