Parliament 12 June 2012

Oral Questions 2 pm – 3 pm

1. DAVID BENNETT to the Minister of Finance: What reports has he received on the Government’s financial position?
2. DAVID SHEARER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?
3. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister of Finance: Does he have confidence in the advice he is receiving from the Treasury; if so, why?
4. JONATHAN YOUNG to the Minister of Energy and Resources:What new opportunities for petroleum exploration in New Zealand have recently been opened?
5. DAVID SHEARER to the Prime Minister: Does he still stand by his statement that he would resign rather than change superannuation?
6. KEVIN HAGUE to the Minister for ACC: Does she have full trust and confidence in John Judge as ACC board chair and, if her confidence is less than full, what is she doing about that?
7. Dr JACKIE BLUE to the Minister of Health: What reports has he received on improvements to midwifery services?
8. Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises: Is it his understanding that the Prime Minister is still committed to his policy of partial asset sales in Mighty River Power, Genesis Power, Meridian Energy, Solid Energy, and Air New Zealand?
9. SIMON O’CONNOR to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment: How much overdue student loan debt has the Government recovered from overseas-based borrowers in the last two years?
10. CHARLES CHAUVEL to the Minister for Courts: What decrease, if any, in the use of the Family Court after 1 July is expected to result from his decision to introduce fees of $700 plus a daily hearing fee of $1,812 for applications for divisions of assets, and fees of $220 for childcare disputes, both of which applications are at present fee-free?
11. JAN LOGIE to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement that “It is also true that anyone on a benefit actually has a lifestyle choice. If one budgets properly, one can pay one’s bills.”?
12. ANDREW LITTLE to the Minister for ACC: What actions, apart from inviting or observing inquiries from the Privacy Commissioner and the Auditor-General, has she taken since 12 March 2012 to see that issues arising out of the wrongful disclosure of personal information by the Accident Compensation Corporation to Bronwyn Pullar have been remedied or addressed by the Corporation?

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

Patsy of the day goes to Q7 – What reports has he received on improvements to midwifery services?

Labour are asking on schools (presumably), superannuation, asset sales, court fees and ACC.

Greens are on ACC and welfare.

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

1. Appropriation (2012/13 Estimates) Bill – second reading, two hours left
2. Appropriation (2011/12 Supplementary Estimates) Bill – first reading, no debate
3. Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill – first reading
4. Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill – second reading
5. Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill – second reading continued

The Appropriation (2012/13 Estimates) Bill was introduced in May 2012 and authorises the appropriations in the 2012 Budget.

The Appropriation (2011/12 Supplementary Estimates) Bill was introduced in May 2012 and authorises the additional expenditure for 2011/12 on top of the 2011 Budget.

The Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill was introduced in May 2012 and seeks to  implement the Government’s decisions  to improve the operation of local government in New Zealand, and defining their purpose as ” to play a broad role in meeting the current and future needs of their communities for good-quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions”.

The Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill was introduced in March 2012 and seeks to introduce a new system of income support for young people and introduce a stronger work focus to some benefit categories. At first reading it was supported by National, Maori, ACT and United and opposed by Labour, Greens, NZ First and Mana. The Social Services Select Committee reported it back, with minority opinions from Labour, Greens and NZ First in opposition.

The Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill was introduced in August 2011. It seeks to establish an environmental management regime for New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf. At first reading it was supported by National, Greens, ACT, Maori, United and C Carter and opposed by Labour, Progressive and Mana. The Local Government and Environment Committee reported it back, with opposition from Labour, Greens and NZ First.