Parliament – 12 March 2013

Parliament 12 March 2013 

Oral Questions 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm

Questions to Ministers           

1. Dr RUSSEL NORMAN (Greens) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement that “I think we got a mandate” for asset sales at the last election, given a majority of New Zealanders voted for parties that opposed his Government’s asset sales policy?
2. MIKE SABIN (National) to the Minister of Finance: What impact is the current drought likely to have on the economy?
3. DAVID SHEARER (Labour) to the Prime Minister: Does he have confidence in the Minister for State Owned Enterprises?
4. Hon PHIL HEATLEY (Labour) to the Minister for Social Development: What results have the Government’s Gateway Assessments for children in care had to date?
5. Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE (Labour) to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises: Does he stand by his statement “There was no change to Dr Elder’s pay or entitlements. Therefore, there was no effect on what his contractual arrangements would be during the changes to his employment”; if so, why?
6. JONATHAN YOUNG (National) to the Minister of Energy and Resources: What can he report on potential oil and gas development in the North Island’s East Coast?
7. DENIS O’ROURKE (NZ First) to the Minister of Immigration: Is the Government planning to reduce the numbers in the Immigration New Zealand Parent Category?
8. PHIL TWYFORD (Labour) to the Minister of Housing: Does he stand by all his statements in relation to Auckland’s metropolitan urban limits?
9. JAMI-LEE ROSS (National) to the Minister of Police: What recent reports from the Police has she received on the results of the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009?
10. EUGENIE SAGE (Greens) to the Minister for the Environment: Are the proposals in the recent Government resource management discussion paper intended to give greater weight to economic benefits than environmental outcomes in Resource Management Act decision making?
11. CHRIS HIPKINS (Labour) to the Minister of State Services: What were the “high profile matters in education last year that contributed to strained relations across the education sector” and why did they lead to the resignation of Lesley Longstone as Secretary of Education?
12. JACQUI DEAN (National) to the Minister for the Environment: What recent announcements has the Government made aimed at improving the quality and management of fresh water?

Labour is asking five questions, the Greens two, NZ First one, and National four. Labour is asking on SOEs, Gateway Assessments for children, ex-Solid Energy CEO Don Elder, Auckland urban limits, and the resignation of Lesley Longstone. The Greens are asking on asset sales and RMA reform, and NZ First is asking on immigration. Patsy of the day goes to Jacqui Dean – what recent announcements has the Government made aimed at improving the quality and management of fresh water?

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

1. Appropriation (2011/12 Financial Review) Bill – committee stage
2. Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 2) – committee stage
3. Building Amendment Bill (No 4) – second reading (cont.)

The Appropriation (2011/12 Financial Review) Bill is under the guidance of Bill English and confirms the financial matters relating to the financial year ended 30 June 2012. Four hours are allocated to it and all financial reviews are available for debate.

The Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 2) was introduced by Peter Dunne in August 2012, in his role as Minister of Revenue. The Bill introduces data-matching with the New Zealand Customs Service to locate borrowers in serious default when they enter or leave New Zealand. It will also change the definition of income, bringing it into line with the definition used for Working For Families tax credits and student allowances, from April 2014. At second reading only the Greens and Mana voted against.

The Building Amendment Bill (No 4) was introduced in September 2011 by Maurice Williamson. It is the second of two Bills to implement the Building Act Review policy decisions. There are 9 x 10m speeches remaining in its second reading