New Zealand’s Education Minister Erica Stanford expressed hope on Wednesday that she would soon be able to provide a copy of the proposed social media ban bill to Labour’s parliamentary caucus, despite earlier claims that legal constraints prevented such action. The move comes amid ongoing negotiations over the bill, which aims to restrict access to social media platforms for users under the age of 16. Labour’s support for the bill is crucial given that opposition parties ACT and New Zealand First have publicly opposed the measure. However, Labour has insisted that it requires a formal copy of the legislation to evaluate its stance. To date, Labour MPs have only been granted access to the bill through briefings, and have not been allowed to retain copies. This situation appears poised for change, with Stanford indicating that she is awaiting final legal advice on whether a workaround exists to deliver the document to Labour. Stanford confirmed that a briefing on the bill was conducted last week for Labour’s caucus, though she noted that only a small number of Labour MPs attended. She stated that Labour’s science, technology, and innovation spokesperson, Reuben Davidson, had emphasized the need for a physical copy of the bill rather than just attending a briefing. Stanford described efforts to be “facilitative” in providing information, including inviting all Labour MPs to participate in the session. Davidson countered that while he acknowledged the logistical challenges faced by MPs during a period of extended parliamentary sessions, the lack of a formal copy of the bill remained a critical issue. He mentioned that several staff members attended the briefing on behalf of absent MPs, but stressed that the absence of the actual bill and related documentation, such as the regulatory impact statement, Cabinet papers, and privacy commissioner advice, left Labour unable to make an informed decision. According to Stanford, the usual process would involve tabling the bill and allowing a few weeks before its first reading, giving Labour ample time to review the text. However, she indicated that recent requests from Davidson had prompted her to explore potential loopholes that might allow the delivery of the bill and associated documents sooner than anticipated. “It's not that we don't want to, but we can't,” Stanford said. “But it looks like there's a way around it. I need to get a couple of sign-outs, we’re just waiting on that final advice. So I’m hoping to hopefully get it to them in the next couple of days, as long as the advice is that we can.” Labour leader Chris Hipkins commented that Stanford’s push for support from Labour was partly due to the absence of backing from New Zealand First and ACT. He suggested that it was reasonable for Labour to request a copy of the bill before committing to support it. “We’re very open to working with the government, but if the government wants our support they need to show us what they’re going to do,” Hipkins said. Further discussions between Stanford and Davidson continue, with both sides emphasizing the importance of transparency and collaboration. While the immediate focus remains on securing the necessary documents for Labour’s consideration, the broader implications of the proposed legislation remain unclear. The bill, which includes provisions for establishing a regulatory body to oversee compliance, has yet to be fully detailed, leaving key aspects of its implementation and enforcement mechanisms shrouded in uncertainty.
★
Keep the news honest.
ObjectiveNews is reader-funded and ad-free — we show you the bias instead of hiding it. Support independent journalism for €4/month.
Become a Supporter
NZ
