April 3, 2012 11:58am by David Farrar

Parliament 3 April 2012

Oral Questions 2 pm – 3 pm

  1. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Has he had any recent discussions with the Prime Minister of Australia over security and intelligence concerns Australia has expressed over Huawei?
  2. JOHN HAYES to the Minister of Finance: What reports has he received on the Government’s plan to return to Budget surplus in 2014/15?
  3. DAVID SHEARER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all statements made by him and on his behalf?
  4. JACQUI DEAN to the Minister of Police: What recent reports has she received about reductions in recorded crime?
  5. CHARLES CHAUVEL to the Minister of Justice: Why has she declined to accept the Law Commission’s recommendation, supported by the Privacy Commissioner, to increase the Privacy Commissioner’s investigative powers, including by giving her the power to issue compliance notices, and to conduct information-handling audits?
  6. COLIN KING to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment: What action is the Government taking to boost international education promotion for Christchurch?
  7. JULIE ANNE GENTER to the Minister of Transport: Why is the Government prioritising State highway projects with low benefit cost ratios, given that traffic volumes are back to 2004 levels and the Crown is borrowing $12 billion a year?
  8. Dr JIAN YANG to the Minister of Immigration: What changes has the Government made to make it easier for low-risk, high-value students to come to New Zealand?
  9. Hon PHIL GOFF to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Does he take responsibility for the $9.2 million being spent on the change process in his Ministry this year and does he consider it money well spent?
  10. MARK MITCHELL to the Minister of Justice: What is the Government doing to reduce knife crime in New Zealand?
  11. Hon RUTH DYSON to the Minister for Primary Industries: Will he extend the area of proposed protection for Maui’s dolphins beyond the proposed levels in the consultation document, if submissions are overwhelmingly in favour of larger protection areas?
  12. TE URUROA FLAVELL to the Minister for Social Development: What opportunity is there for providers to demonstrate that they have improved practice in order to achieve the Minister’s new “fresh look for Family Start”; and what support has the Ministry for Social Development put in place for providers to understand the ramifications of these changes announced on 24 March?

Today there are five questions from National, four questions from Labour, one from the Greens, one from the Maori Party and one from NZ First.

Patsy of the day goes to Q4 – What recent reports has she received about reductions in recorded crime?

Labour are also asking on the PM the normal gotcha question, one on the Privacy Act (which I suspect will turn into an ACC question), one of MFAT restructuring and unusually one on Maui’s dolphins.

Greens are on highway spending (they are against), Maori Party on Family Start and NZ First on Huawei which could be very interesting but I suspect few answers will be given.

Government Bills 3.00 pm – 6.00 pm and 7.30 pm – 10.00 pm

  1. Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill – first reading
  2. Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill – third reading
  3. Appropriation (2010/11 Financial Review) Bill – committee stage (four hour debate)
  4. Building Amendment Bill (No 4) – first reading continued
  5. Taxation (International Investment and Remedial Matters) Bill – third reading

If debates use their maximum time, then the House should complete the first two bills, and get 90 minutes through the Appropriation Bill.

The Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill was introduced in March 2012 and seeks to  introduce a new regime in relation to Fonterra’s milk price setting, proposed capital restructure, and share valuation.

The Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill was introduced in September 2011 and seeks to amend the scheme to shorten the repayment holiday from three years to one year and require borrowers to apply for a repayment holiday, plus other changes. It was supported at first reading by National, Labour, ACT, Maori, Progressive and United and opposed by Greens and Chris Carter. It appears to continue to have broad support as there was no minority report back from the select committee. At second reading all parties but the Greens voted for it. However at committee stage, a Labour amendment to increase the repayment holiday was voted down, and they now appear to be voting against also.

The Appropriation (2010/11 Financial Review) Bill seeks to confirm and validate financial matters relating to the 2010/11 financial year.

The Building Amendment Bill (No 4) was introduced in November 2011 and seeks to also implement the Building Act reviews decisions, including more comprehensive consumer protection measures and clarifying exemptions from building consent requirements.

The Taxation (International Investment and Remedial Matters) Bill was introduced in October 2010 and seeks to to reform the tax treatment of gains of New Zealand residents from income interests in overseas entities and gains of foreign residents from interests in New Zealand companies. It passed its first and second readings on a voice vote but at committee stage Labour and Greens voted against Part 3.