Parliament Today 9 July 2013
Questions to Ministers 2.00 – 3.00 PM
- METIRIA TUREI to the Minister for Economic Development:Does he agree with the Department of Internal Affairs’ advice to his officials on the proposed international convention centre that “virtually any of these proposed concessions would almost certainly be followed by an increase in the number of people seeking help citing problems linked with casino machines or casino table games”; if not, why not?
- JAMI-LEE ROSS to the Minister of Finance: What reports has he received on the Government’s financial position – particularly progress in reaching its target of returning to fiscal surplus in 2014/15?
- DAVID SHEARER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?
- CLAUDETTE HAUITI to the Minister for Economic Development: What progress has the Government made on establishing an international standard convention centre in Auckland?
- Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statements regarding Solid Energy and the Future Investment Fund “Well, again I think he’s saying that technically it was in the rules it might be possible. I haven’t actually seen – can’t recall either seeing [indistinct] and marked those things that are in the budget is an allocation process” and “If Bill’s saying it’s there, there might be a [indistinct] allocation”?
- KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI to the Minister of State Services: What progress is being made toward the achievement of the Government’s Better Public Services targets?
- Hon DAVID PARKER to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by his statement “The Government decides what the Future Investment Fund is spent on”?
- Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements on the recent controversies around the GCSB; if so, why?
- EUGENIE SAGE to the Minister of Conservation: Does he agree with former Otago Conservation Board chairwoman, Associate Professor Abby Smith, who said restructuring at the Department of Conservation has left it “dead in the water”; if not, why not?
- MIKE SABIN to the Minister of Justice: What new initiative is the Government undertaking to fight crime and drug addiction?
- Hon TREVOR MALLARD to the Minister of Internal Affairs: What actions is he taking to minimise the harm from gambling?
- CHRIS AUCHINVOLE to the Minister of Internal Affairs: What progress has been made toward the Government’s targets for delivering more services online?
Today Labour are asking four questions. Labour are asking about whether the Prime Minister stands by all his statements, Solid Energy, the Future Investment Fund and Gambling harm reduction. The Greens are asking two questions. These are about the Skycity Convention Centre and the Department of Conservation. New Zealand First is asking one question, about the GCSB.
Patsy question of the day goes to Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi for Question 6: What progress is being made toward the achievement of the Government’s Better Public Services targets?
Government Bills 3.00PM-6.00PM and 7.30PM-10.00PM.
1. Psychoactive Substances Bill – Committee Stage
2. Formerly the Legal Assistance Amendment Bill, is now six separate bills. They are here 1, 2, 3, 4 ,5 ,6. – Third Reading
3. Formerly the State Sector and Public Finance Reform Bill is now three separate bills. They are here 1, 2, 3. – Third Reading
4. Airports (Cost Recovery for Processing of International Travellers) Bill – Committee Stage
The Psychoactive Substances Bill is being guided through the house by the Associate Minister of Health, Todd McClay. The bill seeks to regulate otherwise unregulated psychoactive substances such as “party pills” and other “legal highs” in New Zealand. The bill aims to restrict the importation, manufacture, and supply of psychoactive substances unless authorised by a regulator, while allowing the sale of products that meet safety and manufacturing requirements. Currently, any psychoactive substance can be sold legally if it is not listed in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. This bill aims to place the onus on the industry to demonstrate that a psychoactive substance is not harmful or poses only a low risk to human health before approval for sale is given. Approval could be given only to finished, packaged psychoactive products, allowing the regulator to assess all the ingredients and the risk that they might present in the particular combination.
What was the Legal Assistance Amendment Bill is being guided through the house by the Minister of Justice, Judith Collins. These six bills are the Legal Services Amendment Bill, Accident Compensation Amendment Bill, Care of Children Amendment Bill, Child Support Amendment Bill (No 2), Family Proceedings Amendment Bill and the Property (Relationships) Amendment Bill.
What was the State Sector and Public Finance Reform Bill is being guided through the house by the Minister of State Services, Jonathan Coleman. This bills is now three separate bills. These are State Sector Amendment Bill, the Public Finance Amendment Bill (No 2) and Crown Entities Amendment Bill.
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.