Abortion bill may get huge majority at first reading

Henry Cooke at Stuff reports:

The Government’s abortion bill will pass its first hurdle with an overwhelming majority, with or without NZ First’s support.
Stuff has spoken with a majority of Parliament’s 120 MPs, 67 of whom said they would support or be likely to support the Bill at its first reading on Thursday.
Just seven said they would vote against it, with another four indicating they would be likely to vote against. Another 12 were still deciding, alongside NZ First’s nine MPs who are refusing to confirm their position.

NZ First have now said they will vote yes at first reading, so that is 76 votes in favour. Add in assumed yes votes and you have 82 votes and if they get 8 of the 12 undecideds they may make 90.