Parliament resumes as parties compete for dominance

Published: 10:19AM Tuesday February 07, 2012 Source: ONE News/ Newstalk ZB

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The new look Government will be on show today as Parliament resumes this afternoon.

Cabinet will sit this morning as well as political party caucuses who will meet before all MPs head into the house at 2pm for question time.

And with some feisty MPs it could be a testing time for strict Speaker Lockwood Smith.

The new Labour leader will have to compete with an expanded Green Party and with the resurrection of New Zealand First, which has eight MPs, including its firebrand leader Winston Peters.

David Shearer says he is looking forward to it.

He says the Government will be held to account for its plans, including the partial privatisation of state assets and selling farmland to foreigners.

But, Prime Minister John Key says there will be a struggle among the opposition parties to achieve dominance.

He says Winston Peters is the strongest in Parliament's debating chamber during question time, while Shearer will be out to prove himself.

Some new rules have been implemented that will see a MP given extra speaking time if they feel they have been mis-represented by a minister.

It will also be tougher for the Government to go into urgency - but house sitting times have been extended so more legislation can be passed.

It is expected maiden speeches will take up much of the house sitting time tonight.

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