Parliament Today 31 July 2013
Questions for Oral Answer. 2.00- 3.00 PM
Questions to Ministers.
1. SHANE ARDERN to the Minister of Finance: What reports has he received on trends in the cost of living for New Zealand families?
2. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he have confidence in the Minister of Immigration?
3. DAVID SHEARER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement that “when my Chief of Staff speaks to someone, they speak for me”?
4. Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Prime Minister: Does he take responsibility for the actions of the David Henry inquiry?
5. MELISSA LEE to the Minister of Housing: How many findings and recommendations did the Productivity Commission make after its 12 month inquiry into housing affordability and what conclusions did it draw?
6. PHIL TWYFORD to the Minister of Housing: Does he stand by his statement on restricting non-residents from buying residential homes “I think the policy is a gimmick, I don’t think it will work”?
7. ALFRED NGARO to the Minister for Social Development: What changes has the Government made to the welfare system?
8. Hon ANNETTE KING to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?
9. STEFFAN BROWNING to the Minister for Primary Industries:Does he still support the key feature of the Fisheries (Foreign Charter Vessels and Other Matters) Amendment Bill that required all foreign-owned vessels operating in New Zealand waters to carry the New Zealand flag from 1 May 2016, and operate under full New Zealand legal jurisdiction; if not, why not?
10. CHRIS HIPKINS to the Minister of Education: Does she stand by her statement with regard to the teaching profession that “being unregistered is not the same as being unqualified”?
11. NICKY WAGNER to the Minister for Economic Development:What support is the Government giving to attract major events to New Zealand?
12. BRENDAN HORAN to the Minister for Primary Industries:What scientific studies, if any, were considered by his ministry about the effect of the Rena disaster on the spawning, reproductive and growth cycles of snapper in the coastal waters of Tauranga Moana and the eastern Bay of Plenty prior to the release of his MPI Discussion Paper 2013/31 Review of sustainability and other management controls for snapper 1 (SNA1)?
Today Labour has four questions. The first question is about the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, Wayne Eagleson. The other questions are about housing, whether the Prime Minister stands by all his statements and teacher registration. The Greens are asking about Foreign Charter Vessels and the Henry Inquiry. New Zealand First is asking about whether the Prime Minister has confidence in the Minister of Immigration. Independent MP Brendan Horan is asking about the new snapper catch restrictions, which is sure to put the government on notice.
Patsy of the Day goes to Alfred Ngaro for Question 7: What changes has the Government made to the welfare system?
General Debate 3.00 – 4.00 PM
A wide ranging debate with twelve speeches of no more than five minutes each. Usually the highlight of the political week for regular parliamentary spectators.
Government Bills 4.00 – 6.00 PM and 7.30 PM to 10.00 PM.
1. Appropriation (2013/14 Estimates) Bill – Committee Stage
2. Resource Management Reform Bill– Committee Stage
3. Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Amendment Bill – Third Reading
4. Airports (Cost Recovery for Processing of International Travellers) Bill – Committee Stage
The Appropriation (2013/2014 Estimates) Bill is being guided through the house by the Minister of Finance, Bill English. This bill relates to the Budget, and seeks parliamentary authorisation for the individual appropriations contained in The Estimates of Appropriations for the Government of New Zealand for the year ending 30 June 2014
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 Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Amendment Bill is being guided through the house by the Minister for Building and Construction, Maurice Williamson. The bill proposes amendments to the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006 to validate a disciplinary levy and an offences fee prescribed by the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board. The bill also seeks to extend the Board’s power to impose levies so that it has funding for all of its functions, including the prosecution of non-registered persons.
The Statutes Amendment Bill is being guided through the house by the Minister for Courts, Chester Borrows. This is an omnibus bill. It is designed to provide a legislative vehicle for minor, technical, and non-controversial amendments to thirty existing acts of legislation.
The Airports (Cost Recovery for Processing of International Travellers) Bill is being guided through the house by the Minister for Primary Industries, Nathan Guy. This bill provides for cost recovery arising from processing of travellers in the aviation security, biosecurity, and customs areas.