Parliament 16 April 2013

(Apologies readers – today’s post is a little later than usual! As such I’ve added links to videos of the oral questions via inthehouse.co.nz – speters)

Oral Questions 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm

Questions to Ministers

1. DAVID SHEARER (LAB) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements? (video)
2. TODD McCLAY (NAT) to the Minister of Finance: What progress is the Government making in its share offer programme to reduce debt and free up capital for priority spending? (video)
3. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (NZF) to the Prime Minister: Does he believe that he has met the requirements of the Cabinet Manual to behave in a way that upholds, and is seen to uphold, the highest ethical standards in his ministerial capacity, his political capacity and his personal capacity; if so, why? (video)
4. Hon PHIL HEATLEY (NAT) to the Minister for Social Development: What reports has she received on the latest benefit figures? (video)
5. Hon DAVID PARKER (LAB) to the Minister of Finance: Will the recent rise in the New Zealand dollar to a post-float high on the Trade Weighted Index cause job losses among non-primary exporters and import substitution businesses? (video)
6. JULIE ANNE GENTER (GRE) to the Minister of Finance: Does he have a plan to fund the Auckland City rail link in the upcoming Budget given that public backing for the rail project is more than twice as strong as the Government’s proposed new motorway north from Puhoi? (video)
7. Dr JIAN YANG (NAT) to the Minister for Economic Development: How is the Government recognising the importance of China for New Zealand’s trade, education and tourism sectors? (video)
8. Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE (LAB) to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises: What responsibility, if any, does he take for Solid Energy’s precarious financial position? (video)
9. NICKY WAGNER (NAT) to the Minister of Housing: How will the $320 million settlement of Housing New Zealand’s insurance claim for earthquake damaged properties help achieve the Government’s priority of rebuilding Christchurch? (video)
10. GRANT ROBERTSON (LAB) to the Prime Minister: What role, if any, did he play in recommending the appointment of Ian Fletcher as Director of the Government Communications Security Bureau? (video)
11. MIKE SABIN (NAT) to the Associate Minister of Social Development: What early results can he report from the Government’s efforts to deal with welfare fraud? (video)
12. GARETH HUGHES (GRE) to the Minister of Energy and Resources: Will he recommend returning the Crown Minerals Amendment Bill to the select committee so that the public can have a say on the so-called “Anadarko Amendment”; if not, why not? (video)

National is asking five questions, Labour four, the Greens two, and NZ First one. Patsy of the day goes to Nicky Wagner for question 9 – how will the $320 million settlement of Housing New Zealand’s insurance claim for earthquake damaged properties help achieve the Government’s priority of rebuilding Christchurch?

Labour is asking the PM a gotcha, and on exchange rates, Solid Energy, and the GCSB Director’s appointment. The Greens are asking on the Auckland City rail link and the Crown Minerals Amendment Bill, and NZ First is asking the PM a gotcha.

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

1. Crown Minerals Amendment Bill (third reading)
2. Conservation Amendment Bill (No 2) (third reading)
3. Continental Shelf Amendment Bill (third reading)
4. Reserves Amendment Bill (third reading)
5. Wildlife Amendment Bill (third reading)
6. Legal Assistance (Sustainability) Amendment Bill (second reading)
7. Immigration Amendment Bill (second reading)

The Crown Minerals Amendment Bill, Conservation Amendment Bill (No 2), Continental Shelf Amendment Bill, Reserves Amendment Bill and Wildlife Amendment Bill (formerly the omnibus Crown Minerals (Permitting and Crown Land) Bill) are being guided through the house by Simon Bridges and received their third reading together. The bills aims to promote prospecting for, exploration for, and mining of Crown owned minerals for the benefit of New Zealand.

The Legal Assistance (Sustainability) Amendment Bill makes changes to the provision of legal services paid for by the Crown, including legal aid and lawyers for child and youth advocate services. Specifically, it limits the number of legal aid grants and increases the amount legally aided people must pay. The Bill also limits eligibility for legal aid, reintroduces a user charge for civil and family legal aid, and enables interest to be charged on legal aid debts. Judith Collins is in charge and it received its second reading today.

The Immigration Amendment Bill amends the Immigration Act for the purpose of discouraging people-smuggling. Specifically, it establishes a legal framework for the mandatory detention, under a group warrant, of irregular migrants arriving as part of a mass arrival group. Michael Woodhouse is in charge and its second reading is in progress.