February 29, 2012 12:48pm by David Farrar

Parliament 29 February 2012

Oral Questions 2 pm – 3 pm

  1. DAVID SHEARER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his recent statements?
  2. SIMON BRIDGES to the Minister of Finance: What will be the main focus of Budget 2012?
  3. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister of Finance: Does he believe it is his responsibility, if it is his intention to sell strategic assets, to obtain the best possible price; if not, why not?
  4. HONE HARAWIRA to the Minister for Social Development: Does she agree with the comment in today’s New Zealand Herald that she is stripping away the rights of beneficiaries that she herself had as a sole parent; if not, why not?
  5. Hon PHIL GOFF to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Does he support proposals to make redundant 63 people in policy and diplomatic positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; if so, why?
  6. SCOTT SIMPSON to the Minister for Social Development: How do the Government’s recently announced welfare reforms balance obligations with incentives?
  7. GARETH HUGHES to the Minister of Energy and Resources: Does he stand by his statement that he is “not aware of any reason to justify a moratorium” on fracking in New Zealand?
  8. MARK MITCHELL to the Minister for Economic Development: What reports has he received demonstrating New Zealand’s improved export performance?
  9. Hon NANAIA MAHUTA to the Minister of Education: Does she have confidence in her Ministry?
  10. ALFRED NGARO to the Minister for Social Development: What response has she had to the Government’s Green Paper for Vulnerable Children?
  11. JAN LOGIE to the Minister of Corrections: Does she agree with the finding of the Chief Ombudsman that “transgender prisoners are particularly vulnerable to abuse and/or sexual assault”?
  12. CLARE CURRAN to the Minister of Broadcasting: Does he stand by his primary answer to Oral Question No 11 on Wednesday, 15 February 2012?
Today there are four questions from National, four questions from Labour, two from the Greens, one from NZ First and one from Mana.

Patsy of the day goes to Q8 – What reports has he received demonstrating New Zealand’s improved export performance?

Labour are asking the PM a general question on his recent statements, MFAT restructuring, Education (presumably the teacher sex offender case) and NZ on Air.

Greens are on fracking and trans-gender prisoners. Winston is on revenue from asset sales and Hone on welfare reform. Fascinating that only Mana is asking questions on welfare reform today.

General Debate 3 pm – 4 pm

Private and Local Bills 4 pm – 6 pm and 7.30 pm – 10 pm 

This is the first non-Government bills sitting day this year.
The Royal Society bill was infamously filibustered all of last year by its own sponsor, Grant Robertson in a futile bid to stop the VSM bill. The Government could be mean and actually now deliver his own medicine to him and keep the fillibuster up, but instead they have agreed to let it pass through both remaining stages today. The bill was introduced in September 2010 and aims to  to amend the Royal Society of New Zealand Act 1997 to incorporate the humanities in the object and functions of the Royal Society, plus some other minor changes. It has been supported by all parties at first and second readings.
The Southland District Council Bill was introduced in May 2010 and seeks to establish a mechanism for applying a levy on people visiting Stewart Island/Rakiura. It was supported by all parties at first reading and at select committee.
The Hutt City Council bill was introduced in September 2011 and aims to “to empower the Hutt City Council to remove graffiti that is on private property and that is visible from a public place”.
The Manukau City Council (Regulation of Prostitution in Specified Places) Bill was introduced in October 2010 and aims to authorise the Manukau City Council to make bylaws regulating where street prostitution may occur. It will now apply to the Auckland Council rather than just the old Manukau City Council.
It passed the first reading on a personal vote of 82 to 36.
The South Taranaki Bill is was introduced in October 211 and specifies a process for the South Taranaki District Council to follow in order to authorise a transfer of the Cold Creek Rural Water Supply Scheme to Cold Creek Rural Water Supply Limited.