Fossil fuel investment bill drawn from ballot

The bills pulled include outgoing Green Party MP Russel Norman's Climate Change (Divestment from Fossil Fuels) Bill. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Restricting public investment in fossil fuel companies, allowing beneficiaries more part-time work and the creation of a new watchdog to oversee intelligence agencies - a new tranche of members bills are set to go before Parliament.

Four members' bills have been drawn from the ballot which decides which bills are considered by Parliament.

They include outgoing Green Party MP Russel Norman's Climate Change (Divestment from Fossil Fuels) Bill, which would direct the managers of public funds like the Superannuation Fund and the ACC Fund to not invest in companies directly involved in the fossil fuel trade.

Dr Norman, who last week announced he would shortly leave Parliament to take the reins at Greenpeace NZ, said that, with regard to the Superannuation Fund, only about 200 companies would be affected.

"This is an opportunity to join the world's largest pension fund - the Norwegian fund - and major private investors like the Rockefeller Fund, in a global movement to divest from fossil fuels."

Two Labour MPs had bills drawn. Carmel Sepuloni's Social Security (Pathway to Work) Amendment Bill would lift the rates people on a benefit can earn through part-time work, without having their support cut.

"Part-time work is a vital pathway back into full-time employment on the benefit. Making that work pay by raising the abatement rate will give thousands of New Zealanders a better chance at getting a full-time job," Ms Sepuloni said.

Labour MP Clare Curran had her Telecommunications (Interception Capability and Security) Amendment Bill, which will put the spotlight back on oversight of New Zealand's intelligence agencies.

"My bill creates a technical advisory board to act as a crucial independent buffer against the GCSB and a Government minister exercising surveillance powers with no independent scrutiny or accountability," Ms Curran said.

"The bill will require any matter referred to the Minister where they exercise discretion or recommend prescribing an additional area of specified security interest be referred to the Technical Advisory Board for analysis and recommendations."

Few Opposition MPs' bills make it into law but it will at least give a platform to debate the issues.