Parliament Today 27 August 2013

From DPF: If you watch question time today, I’d love you to comment below and score the three leadership contenders out of 10 for how you think they did, as they have a question each.

Questions for Oral Answer.

Questions to Ministers 2.00-3.00PM.

1. JAMI-LEE ROSS 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?
2. Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements relating to Government policy?
3. GRANT ROBERTSON to the Prime Minister: Is he satisfied with the performance of his Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment, and are there any areas of his performance that need to improve?
4. COLIN KING to the Minister of Education: What recent announcements has she made about investment in education?
5. Hon SHANE JONES to the Minister for Economic Development: Does he stand by his statement “The New Zealand economy is, of course, the sum of its regional economies and that is why the Government is placing huge emphasis on assisting each region”?
6. BRENDAN HORAN to the Minister for Primary Industries: What is the best estimate he or his Ministry have, if any, of the economic value of recreational fishing including direct and indirect employment?
7. Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE to the Prime Minister: Does he have confidence in all his Ministers?
8. JAN LOGIE to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?
9. SCOTT SIMPSON to the Minister of Justice: What recent reports has she received on progress with the Drivers of Crime programme?
10. Hon DAVID PARKER to the Minister of Finance: Does he agree with the Prime Minister that “first-home buyers are a priority for the Government”, if so, why are houses more unaffordable for young New Zealanders now than six months ago?
11. CLAUDETTE HAUITI to the Minister of Health: What reports has he received on the latest national health target results?
12. Hon RUTH DYSON to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?

Today the Labour Party are asking five questions. Grant Robertson is asking the Prime Minister about the performance of Steven Joyce in the Tertiary Education portfolio. Shane Jones is asking about Economic Development.  David Cunliffe is asking the Prime Minister whether he has confidence in all his Ministers. David Parker is asking the Minister of Finance about first home buyers. Ruth Dyson is asking whether the Prime Minister stands by all his statements.  The Greens are asking two questions. Russel Norman is asking whether the Prime Minister stands by all his statements relating to government policy, Jan Logie is asking whether the Prime Minister stands by all his statements. Independent MP Brendan Horan is asking about Snapper quotas ( I would also note that the three Labour Leadership contenders are being given a chance to ask an important question each today).

Patsy of the day goes to Claudette Hauiti for Question 11 to the Minister of Health, Tony Ryall: What reports has he received on the latest national health target results?

Government Bills 3.00PM-6.00PM and 7.30PM- 10.ooPM

1. Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Amendment Bill – Committee Stage

2. Resource Management Reform Bill -Committee Stage

3. Bail Amendment Bill -Committee Stage

4. Public Finance (Fiscal Responsibility) Amendment Bill – Committee Stage

5. Patents Bill -Committee Stage

The Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Amendment Bill is being guided through the house by the Minister of Finance, Bill English. The bill seeks to amend the Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2010, which established a licensing and prudential supervision regime for insurers operating in New Zealand. It would also make a consequential amendment to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 1989.

The Resource Management Bill is being guided through the house by the Minister for the Environment, Amy Adams. his 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 Bail Amendment Bill is being guided through the house by the Minister of Justice, Judith Collins. This bill seeks to amend the Bail Act 2000, the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989, the Sentencing Act 2002, the Bail Amendment Act 2011, the District Courts Act 1947, the District Courts Amendment Act 2011, and the Summary Proceedings Act 1957, in order to improve public safety and enhance the integrity of New Zealand’s bail system. The bill seeks to introduce a reverse burden of proof for offenders charged with serious violent offences and class A drug dealing offences, and provides for district court judges to deal with bail matters of defendants charged with drug dealing offences.

The Public Finance (Fiscal Responsibility) 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.

The Patents Bill is being guided through the house by the Minister of Commerce, Craig Foss. This Bill is designed to replace the Patents Act 1953 and update the New Zealand patent regime to ensure that it continues to provide an appropriate balance between providing adequate incentives for innovation and technology transfer while ensuring that the interests of the public and the interests of Maori in their traditional knowledge are protected.