Two bills on amendments to LG polls in P’ment next month

The Government is to present the Local Government (Amendment) Bill and another special provision bill to parliament for approval on 17 January.

The party leaders have decided to take up the legislation in January for approval. Parliament is to resume sessions on 17 January after holiday vacation following the conclusion of the 2012 budget.

The proposed amendments to the local government electoral system are to do away with the current preferential voting system to elect members to local government bodies.

The new system being proposed is to be a mixture of the proportional representation system and first past the post system.

The two bills on local government elections was presented to the House on two previous occasions, but was withdrawn before the committee stage approval in order to introduce amendments.

The bills to be presented on the 17th are to include the amendments sought by the opposition political parties.