Parliament 14 June 2012

Oral Questions 2 pm – 3 pm

1. JACINDA ARDERN to the Minister for Social Development: Does she stand by her statement regarding her newly appointed welfare board that “I’m backing the board to guide the investment approach, I’m backing Work and Income to implement it”.
2. METIRIA TUREI to the Minister for Economic Development: Does he stand by his statement that he was “not at all concerned” about signing a deal with SkyCity for a convention centre, before the Auditor-General’s inquiry into the deal is complete?
3. MAGGIE BARRY to the Minister of Finance: How is the Government assisting households and competitive businesses through these tough world economic times?
4. Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE to the Minister for Economic Development: Does he stand by his statement that “the Auditor-General’s process will not impact on the Government’s negotiations with SkyCity”; if so, why?
5. Hon TAU HENARE to the Minister for Social Development: What announcements has the Government made today on employment assistance?
6. Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises: Does he stand by all his statements with regard to asset sales?
7. LOUISE UPSTON to the Minister of Justice: What is the Government doing to protect New Zealanders from people charged with serious crime?
8. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister of Finance: Does he have any concerns about the public statements of the Secretary to the Treasury; if not, why not?
9. Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Minister of Trade: Will New Zealand follow Australia and refuse to sign up to the investor-state dispute provisions of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement; if not, why not?
10. SUE MORONEY to the Minister of Education: Do any of the thousands of reports she referred to in Oral Question No 8 yesterday support the Government’s decision to cut funding for 100 percent qualified staff in early childhood education as a means of lifting student achievement, and if so, what are the names of five of these reports she has read?
11. IAN McKELVIE to the Minister for Communications and Information Technology: What action has the Government taken to raise awareness of cyber security risks?
12. ANDREW LITTLE to the Minister for ACC: What meetings or discussions did she have with the Chair or Chief Executive of ACC between receiving the 16 March report relating to the Pullar affair and ACC laying a complaint with the Police and did she in any of these meetings or discussions either suggest, encourage or agree to ACC laying the complaint?

Patsy of the day goes to Q3 – How is the Government assisting households and competitive businesses through these tough world economic times?

Labour are asking on welfare reform, Sky City, asset sales, ECE and  ACC.

Greens are on Sky City and TPP, NZ First on the Treasury.

Government Bills 3.00 pm – 6.00 pm

1. Mixed Ownership Model Bill – second reading
2. Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill – first reading

The Mixed Ownership Model Bill was introduced in March 2012 and enables the Crown to  remove Genesis Power Limited, Meridian Energy Limited, Mighty River Power Limited, and Solid Energy New Zealand Limited from the State-Owned Enterprises Act 1986, and restricts the Crown from holding less than 51% of the voting rights in each of the companies and will restrict non-Crown individuals and entities from holding more than 10% of the voting rights in each of the companies. It passed first reading 61-60 with National, ACT, United Future in favour and all other parties against. The Finance and Expenditure reported it back with minority reports from Labour and Greens.

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. It passed first reading 64 to 54 with Labour, Greens, NZ First and Mana against. The Primary Production Committee recommended it pass with amendments, with Labour and Greens giving minority reports.