PARLIAMENT BEGINS PRIORITISING BILLS AS GENERAL ELECTIONS DRAW EVER CLOSER

PARLIAMENT BEGINS PRIORITISING BILLS AS GENERAL ELECTIONS DRAW EVER CLOSER

• 17 August 2023
• Parliament
• SA Legal Academy

Of the 57 Bills now in various stages of being processed by Parliament, three have been the focus of National Assembly committee meetings held well before the end of a lengthy constituency period.

Having risen on 19 June 2023, the House and its committees are only scheduled to reconvene on 28 August – at least according to the latest parliamentary programme. Yet, following nationwide public hearings, work has already begun on:

• the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (three meetings have already been held this month)
• the Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Bill (three meetings have already been held this month), and
• the Climate Change Bill (two meetings have already been held this month).

Presumably, the committees concerned met during the constituency period because they have been told that time is running out.

If the NCOP committees responsible are to give these Bills adequate attention before Parliament rises for the 2024 general elections, they will need to be passed by the National Assembly as soon as is reasonably possible. To that end, the National Assembly committees now busy processing them will each need to prepare, consider and adopt:

• a report on stakeholder submissions and input during the public participation process
• any amendments proposed by stakeholders and deemed appropriate, presented by Parliament’s Constitutional & Legal Services Office in what has come to be known as an ‘A’ list, and
• a report on the entire committee process for tabling with the revised Bill, in anticipation of a second reading debate.

SA Legal Academy Policy Watch recently reported on the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill.

The Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Bill seeks to provide for a dedicated petroleum resources development regulatory regime, separate from mineral resources. It was introduced in Parliament more than two years ago.

The Climate Change Bill seeks to facilitate ‘the development of an effective climate change response and a long-term, just transition to a climate-resilient and lower-carbon economy’. It was introduced in Parliament 18 months ago.

All three pieces of proposed new legislation are section 76 Bills affecting the provinces. As a result, the NCOP leg of their passage through Parliament will require each provincial legislature to conduct public hearings. This can take several months.

With Parliament expected to rise for another constituency break on 22 September 2023 – and again on 1 December for at least six weeks – the possibility of fast tracking cannot be ruled out.

• Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill
• SA Legal Academy report
• Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Bill
• Climate Change Bill
• parliamentary programme

Published by SA Legal Academy Policy Watch

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