Trade (Australia and New Zealand) (Parliamentary Approval) Bill

Key Points

• It adds a mandatory parliamentary approval step by resolution in both Houses for implementing the UK’s free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand.
• The approval process applies specifically to those two countries’ trade deals, ensuring parliamentary oversight before any implementation.
• Originating in the Commons, the bill is sponsored by Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat) and is currently at the 1st reading in the Commons.
• If the bill progresses, it would continue through the usual stages (2nd Reading, Committee, Report, etc).
• This approach mirrors previously debated proposals, where similar measures received broad cross-party attention in 2022 as part of the trade-deal process.

Progress

The bill is at the 1st reading stage in the Commons. If it moves forward, it would proceed to the 2nd Reading and further stages; the policy has been considered before, with prior 2nd and 3rd readings in 2022 showing substantial support.

Voting

In the 2022 readings, Conservative MPs and allied parties largely voted in favour, while Liberal Democrats and SNP opposed; Plaid Cymru also opposed, with some other parties (e.g., Reform UK, DUP) supporting or split; there were mixed or not-recorded positions among Labour and others.