The Government will soon introduce new legislation that would, if passed in a referendum, allow a future Government to extend the parliamentary term to four-years.
Based on an ACT party draft bill, the changes to the parliamentary term would remain 3-years, but with the option to extend to four-years if the in-power Government hands over select committees to the opposition.
Under the proposed change, a parliament could choose to alter the makeup of certain select committees to the way that questions are allocated in question time.
This allocation is based on the proportion of non-executive parliamentary party membership of the House and would mean that in most circumstances, the government would lose control of committees.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith announced the change on Thursday morning.
“The bill is modelled on the Act Party’s draft Constitution Amendment Bill. This means a standard term of parliament will remain at three years, but with the ability to extend the maximum term of parliament to four years,” Goldsmith said.
“The main condition is that membership of certain select committees is calculated in a way that is proportionate to the non-executive parliamentary party membership of the House,” he said.
Goldsmith said it was possible a referendum could be held at the 2026 election depending on feedback from the select committee.
Referendums to extend the parliamentary term have twice failed.
Photo Credit: Parliament NZ
