Parliament 27 June 2012

UPDATE: I overlooked that today is a members day. Normally the order paper is published at 11.30 am and will state this but due to the extended sitting the order paper was still yesterday’s one. So it will have been government bills in the morning and members’ bills in the afternoon and evening after general debate.

Extended Sitting from Tuesday 9.00 am – 1.00 pm

See Government orders and bills below

Oral Questions 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm

1. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Associate Minister for Social Development: Is she confident that all providers contracted through the Family-Centred Services Fund are meeting the appropriate financial and governance standards?
2. DAVID SHEARER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?
3. DAVID BENNETT to the Minister of Finance: What are the benefits of getting better results from public services?
4. Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement that “you can’t and wouldn’t want to” stop retail investors on-selling shares to foreign buyers under his asset sales policy?
5. ALFRED NGARO to the Minister for Social Development: What commitments has the Government made to reduce the number of child assaults in New Zealand?
6. Hon DAVID PARKER to the Minister of Finance: Is narrowing the wage gap with Australia the fundamental purpose of his Government, if so, where is the specific target in National’s 120-point action plan, National’s revised six-point Brighter Future plan or his more recent ten results for New Zealanders?
7. SIMON O’CONNOR to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment: How is the Government improving pathways into vocational training as part of its target for lifting qualifications at Level 4 and above?
8. Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR to the Minister for Primary Industries: What were the total line-by-line savings in Vote Biosecurity in Budget 2009 and Budget 2010?
9. NIKKI KAYE to the Minister of Education: What commitments has the Government made to raising student achievement in New Zealand?
10. PHIL TWYFORD to the Minister of Transport: What involvement, meetings or contact did his predecessor have with Infratil, NZ Bus or Snapper Services regarding Auckland’s integrated ticketing system, and what involvement did the Government have in the decision to include Snapper in the project?
11. JAMI-LEE ROSS to the Minister of Labour: What recent reports has she received regarding the success of 90-day trials?
12. KEVIN HAGUE to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his reported comments regarding ACC that he “backed the corporation’s harder stance, saying it should continue and there was no evidence legitimate claimants were missing out”?

Patsy of the day goes to Q9 – What commitments has the Government made to raising student achievement in New Zealand?

Labour are asking a gotcha to John Key, wage gap with Australia, Vote Biosecurity and Snapper.

Greens are on asset sales and ACC and NZ First on Whanau Ora.

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

1. Appropriation (2011/12 Supplementary Estimates) Bill (three hour debate)
2. Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill – committee stage
3. Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill – second reading continued
4. Families Commission Amendment Bill – first reading
5. Commerce Commission (International Co-operation, and Fees) Bill – committee stage continued

The House sits from 9 am to 10 pm today, for a total of ten and a half hours. Hard to estimate how far they may get – will primarily depend on the Social Security committee stage debate.

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 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. It passed second reading 63-57.

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.

The Families Commission Amendment Bill was introduced in May 2012 and seeks to restructure the Families Commission.

The Commerce Commission (International Co-operation, and Fees) Bill was introduced in September 2008. It seeks to facilitate increased co-operation between the Commerce Commission and other overseas competition and consumer regulators. It passed first and second readings without dissent.