Parliament 6 March 2012
Oral Questions 2 pm – 3 pm
- DAVID BENNETT to the Minister of Finance: What reports has he received on the Government’s financial position?
- DAVID SHEARER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements on the sale of State-owned assets?
- JACQUI DEAN to the Minister for the Environment: How much funding has the Government committed to the Fresh Start for Fresh Water clean-up fund for the projects announced at the Bluegreens Forum at the weekend for the Manawatu River and the Wairarapa, Wainono and Waituna Lagoons?
- DAVID SHEARER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his recent statements?
- CATHERINE DELAHUNTY to the Minister of Energy and Resources: Will the Review of New Zealand Minerals Royalty Rates ensure that royalties are paid on all mines in New Zealand?
- COLIN KING to the Minister for Communications and Information Technology: What progress has been made to improve access to broadband in New Zealand schools?
- Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises: Why is there no provision in the Government’s asset sales legislation to ensure preferential treatment for individual New Zealand buyers despite the Prime Minister’s promise that “Kiwi mums and dads will be at the front of the queue”?
- TE URUROA FLAVELL to the Minister for the Environment: Have Iwi Māori raised any issues with him about the proposals in the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill; if so, what?
- Hon PHIL GOFF to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Why is the Government requiring the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to find operating savings and make cuts of $40 million a year?
- Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister of Local Government: Does he have confidence in the financial management of the Auckland Council?
- MELISSA LEE to the Minister for Social Development: How is Government working with the Auckland Council and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce to support young Aucklanders into employment opportunities?
- KRIS FAAFOI to the Minister of Police: Is it correct that “Police bosses are considering laying off staff and closing some stations in an effort to save $360 million over the next three years” as reported in the NZ Herald?
Today there are four questions from National, five questions from Labour, one from the Greens, one from the Maori Party and one from NZ First.
Patsy of the day goes to Q6 – What progress has been made to improve access to broadband in New Zealand schools?
Labour are asking about asset sales, PM standing by statements, MFAT cuts, and Police funding
Greens are on mine royalties. That might be one area I agree with them. There is an arguable case for higher royalties.
NZ First is again on confidence in the financial management of the Auckland Council. It didn’t get anywhere last week but may this week.
The Maori Party is asking on EEZ consultation.
Government Bills 3.00 pm – 6.00 pm and 7.30 pm – 10.00 pm
- Customs and Excise (Joint Border Management Information Sharing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill – committee stage continued
- Building Amendment Bill (No 3) – committee stage
- Crown Pastoral Land (Rent for Pastoral Leases) Amendment Bill – second reading
- Defence Amendment Bill – first reading
- Financial Markets Conduct Bill – first reading
The Customs and Excise (Joint Border Management Information Sharing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill was introduced in September 2010 and seeks to enable border agencies to share information, change the thresholds and processes for administrative and petty offence provisions of the Customs and Excise Act. It passed its first and second reading on voice votes.
The Building Amendment Bill (No 3) was introduced in October 2010 and aims to implement policy decisions from the 2009 Building Act review. It was passed on a voice vote at first reading but the select committee reports that Labour and Greens will now oppose the bill as they see the building reforms as being done piecemeal.
The Crown Pastoral Land (Rent for Pastoral Leases) Amendment Bill was introduced in December 2010 and aims to replace the land valuation basis for setting rents for pastoral leases with a property-earning-capacity basis for setting rents for pastoral leases. It was supported at first reading by National, Greens, ACT, Maori and United and opposed by Labour. Labour opposed the bill at select committee saying it “severely compromises the property rights of the land owner, the Crown, to negotiate a fair return on the full value of the land”.
The Defence Amendment Bill was introduced in October 2011. It aims to amend the Defence Act 1990 to implement government policy as set out in the Defence White Paper 2010, including capability management; information sharing; appointment, removal, and performance management of Chief of Defence Force; Senior New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) appointments and accountabilities; civilianisation; Reserves and Territorial Forces, and the Defence Advisory Board.
The Financial Markets Conduct Bill was introduced in October 2011. It aims to to provide an enduring financial market conduct regulatory regime that promotes confident and informed participation in New Zealand’s financial markets.