December 6, 2012 2:01pm by hamishm

Parliament 6 December 2012

Oral Questions 2.00 pm -3.00 pm

Questions to Ministers.

  1. LOUISE UPSTON to the Minister of Finance: What reports has he received on the economy?
  2. GRANT ROBERTSON to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment: Does he stand by his statement that those providers who have received funding for foundation level courses in the recent contestable process were chosen because of their ability to “deliver to those most at need of foundation education programmes”?
  3. COLIN KING to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment: What progress is the Government making with strengthening the performance of our tertiary education system?
  4. Hon DAVID PARKER to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by his statement that “I just don’t think the world will let us run 7 and 8 percent current account deficits. It just won’t. I think you’d get the kind of sharp adjustment that the textbooks tell you would happen in the exchange rate or interest rates”; if so, has he seen NZIER’s forecast for New Zealand’s current account deficit as a percentage of GDP for 2014 and 2017?
  5. Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Minister of Finance: Does he agree with the Prime Minister that the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement is worth about US$2.9 billion to the New Zealand economy; if so, has he or the Treasury seen this forecasting?
  6. MAGGIE BARRY to the Minister of Health: What announcements has the Government recently made on new facilities in the public health service?
  7. DARIEN FENTON to the Minister of Labour: What steps is he taking to implement the recommendations of the Pike River Mine Royal Commission Inquiry?
  8. Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA to the Minister of Energy and Resources: What recent update has he received on Transpower’s North Island Grid Upgrade?
  9. Hon PHIL GOFF to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Has he read the Owner’s Expectations Manual prepared by the Crown Ownership Monitoring Unit, and does he require directors he recommends for appointment to government companies to also read that manual?
  10. RICHARD PROSSER to the Minister for Primary Industries: What is the latest estimate by the Ministry of Primary Industries of the total cost to the kiwifruit industry of the PSA outbreak?
  11. Dr CAM CALDER to the Minister of Commerce: What regulations came into force this month that target unsolicited or “low ball” share offers?
  12. JAN LOGIE to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Has the Government diverted money from its aid budget in order to pay for its $30 million pledge over three years to help developing countries address climate change?

In today’s questions, National MPs are asking five, Labour four, the Greens two, and New Zealand First one. Labour are asking about education, the deficit, the TPP and conflicts of interest. The Greens are asking about the TPP and foreign aid. New Zealand First are asking about PSA.

Patsy of the day goes to Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga for question number 8; What recent update has he received on Transpower’s North Island Grid Upgrade?

Government Bills 3 pm – 6 pm

  1. Alchol Reform Bill – Committee stage (continued)
  2. Appropriation (2011/12 Financial Review) Bill – second reading
  3. Human Rights Amendment Bill – Interrupted debate on first reading

The Alcohol Reform Bill was introduced by Simon Power in 2010, as the then Minister of Justice. The bill implements the Government’s decisions on the reform of alcohol legislation; decisions made in response to the Law Commission’s 2010 report on alcohol.

The Appropriation (2011/12 Financial Review) Bill was read a first time on Tuesday, introduced to the House last month by Minister of Finance Bill English. The purpose of this bill is to confirm and validate financial matters relating to the 2011/12 financial year.

The Legislation Bill was introduced in October last year by Simon Power. This bill enables the establishment of a full-time Disability Rights Commissioner within the Human Rights Commission, and makes changes to the role and structure of the Commission.