Parliament 25 June 2013

1. Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Minister responsible for the GCSB: Does he agree with the New Zealand Law Society when it describes outcomes in the Government Communications Security Bureau and Related Legislation Amendment Bill as “unacceptable and inconsistent with the rule of law”; if not, why not?
2. CHRIS AUCHINVOLE to the Minister of Finance: What progress is the Government making in building a more competitive and productive economy and how is this helping New Zealand families?
3. DAVID SHEARER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?
4. KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI to the Minister of Internal Affairs:What are the Government’s plans for providing more services online?
5. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?
6. Hon DAVID PARKER to the Minister of Finance: Does he agree with ANZ regarding the New Zealand economy that “Our concern is that the domestic-centric mix of growth is not sustainable from the standpoint of New Zealand’s external imbalances”; if not, why not?
7. JAN LOGIE to the Attorney-General: Does he agree with the New Zealand Law Society that “The rule of law lies at the very foundation of a free and democratic society and is essential for the protection of human rights”; if not, why not?
8. DAVID BENNETT to the Minister of Immigration: How is the Government planning to further combat the exploitation of migrant workers?
9. Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises: Does he stand by all his statements regarding Solid Energy?
10. STEFFAN BROWNING to the Minister for the Environment: Will she be changing the law to restrict councils’ ability to regulate the release of genetically modified organisms in their regions; if so, what are the proposed changes?
11. MIKE SABIN to the Minister of Transport: How is the Government working with the Auckland Council to progress the Puhoi to Wellsford Road of National Significance?
12. GRANT ROBERTSON to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all the answers given on his behalf to Oral Question No 3 on 13 June 2013

Questions to Members

1. Hon SHANE JONES to the Member in charge of the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill: Is it his intention to proceed with the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill; if so, does he believe its effect will be a reduction in problem gambling?
2. Hon SHANE JONES to the Member in charge of the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill: How can he proceed with the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill when the Problem Gambling Foundation says it will have little, if any, effect on problem gambling?
3. Hon SHANE JONES to the Member in charge of the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill: Does his Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill as amended at select committee fulfil his original intentions of the bill he introduced?
4. Hon SHANE JONES to the Member in charge of the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill: How can he proceed with the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill, given that the Salvation Army says that the Government’s rewrite of his bill means that the aim of his original bill has been largely cancelled out?
5. Hon SHANE JONES to the Member in charge of the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill: Why did he agree to continue with the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill when at select committee all of its main provisions were either removed or weakened?
6. Hon SHANE JONES to the Member in charge of the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill: Why has he agreed to the Government’s amendments to his Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill, when as the Salvation Army’s social policy spokesperson Major Campbell Roberts says, the Government’s latest proposals have nothing to do with minimising the damage done to communities by gambling?

Today there are four questions from Labour, three questions from The Greens and one question from New Zealand First. Labour are asking about whether the Prime Minister stands by his statements (twice), weaknesses of the New Zealand economy, and the collapse of Solid Energy. The Greens are asking about the GCSB, the rule of law and genetically modified organisms. New Zealand First are asking whether the Prime Minister stands by his statements.

Shane Jones is using the far less often seen Questions to Members to ask several questions of Te Ururoa Flavell about the changes to his Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill.

Patsy Question of the day goes to Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi for Question 4: What are the Government’s plans for providing more services online?

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

1. Local Electoral Amendment Bill (No.2) – Third Reading

2. State Sector and Public Finance Reform Bill – Second Reading

3. Resource Management Reform Bill -Second Reading

4. Public Finance (Fiscal Responsibility) Amendment Bill – Second Reading

The Local Electoral Amendment Bill (No.2) is being guided through the house by Minister of Local Government, Chris Tremain. seeks to amend the Local Electoral Act 2001 and the Local Electoral Regulations 2001 with regard to provisions for the conduct of local elections; transparency and accountability around electoral donations; and the integrity and efficiency of the electoral system.

The State Sector and Public Finance Reform Bill is being guided through the house by Minister of State Services, Dr Jonathan Coleman. This bill seeks to amend legislation governing the management of the State sector and public finances in New Zealand.

The Resource Management Reform Bill is being guided through the house by the Minister for the Environment, Amy Adams. This is an omnibus bill that proposes amendments to the Resource Management Act 1991, the Local Government (Auckland Transitional Provisions) Act 2010, and to the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987. The bill aims to make improvements to the consenting regime, provide for the delivery of the first combined plan for Auckland, provide further powers to make regulations, and to make technical and operational changes.

The Public Finance (Fiscal Responsibility) Amendment Bill is being guided through the house by the Minister of Finance, Bill English. This bill would add a number of new principles of responsible fiscal management and associated requirements to the fiscal responsibility provisions of the Public Finance Act 1989.