Parliament Today 18 September 2013
Questions for Oral Answer.
Questions to Ministers 2.00 PM – 3.00PM.
- Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises: What is the forecast cost to the Crown of the Government’s plan to allow buyers of Meridian Energy shares to pay for their shares in instalments and will the instalment scheme be open to overseas institutions?
- JOHN HAYES to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he received on the New Zealand economy and business growth?
- Hon DAVID PARKER to the Minister of Finance: Given that he disagrees with the advice of the Treasury on the Tiwai smelter, who advised it should not be subsidised by taxpayers because “it would result in a significant transfer of value from New Zealanders to Pacific Aluminium and Rio Tinto shareholders”, does he then agree with the New Zealand Herald that the $30 million dollar taxpayer subsidy paid to the Rio Tinto-owned smelter is “an abject piece of short sighted thinking”; if not, why not?
- METIRIA TUREI to the Minister of Education: Did her statement that “Partnership Schools/Kura Hourua will play their part in meeting our target of five out of five students achieving success in education. They will be established in areas where kids are currently underserved by the existing education system” reflect any selection criteria for the first partnership schools; if not, why not?
- JONATHAN YOUNG to the Minister of Energy and Resources: What recent announcement has he made about Block Offer 2014?
- JACINDA ARDERN to the Minister for Social Development: Is she satisfied that all relevant government departments and agencies have the funding and resources required to implement her Children’s Action Plan?
- MELISSA LEE to the Minister for Social Development: What announcements has she made that will get beneficiaries better deals on whiteware appliances, saving taxpayers money?
- Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE to the Minister responsible for the Earthquake Commission: Does he stand by his statement yesterday in relation to the Earthquake Commission’s latest privacy breach “I guess when they’re dealing with that level of correspondence, things can happen”?
- JULIE ANNE GENTER to the Minister of Transport: What is the cost of deferring the construction of the Auckland City Rail Link from 2015, the preferred start date of Auckland Council, to 2020, the Government’s proposed start date?
- IAN McKELVIE to the Minister of Corrections: What recent announcements has she made to reduce re-offending in prison?
- Hon ANNETTE KING to the Minister of Health: Does he agree that every person can afford healthcare and disability support, regardless of their income, health status, or risk profile?
- MIKE SABIN to the Associate Minister of Transport: What progress has been made as part of the Safer Journeys road safety strategy?
Today Labour are asking four questions. these are on the Tiwai Point Smelter subsidy, the Children’s Action Plan, the Earthquake Commission, and support for people with disabilities. The Greens are asking three questions. They are about the Meridian Share Float, Partnership Schools and the Auckland City Rail Link.
Patsy of the day goes to Melissa Lee for Question 7: What announcements has she made that will get beneficiaries better deals on whiteware appliances, saving taxpayers money?
General Debate 3.00PM – 4.00PM.
12 Speeches of no more than 5 minutes each.
Valedictory Statement of the Hon Lianne Dalziel, MP for Christchurch East 5.45-6.00PM
A Valedictory statement is the final speech of a Member of Parliament upon retirement or resignation. Lianne Dalziel has served Minister of Immigration, Commerce, Minister of Food Safety and Associate Minister of Justice in the Fifth Labour Government. Dalziel is resigning to contest the Christchurch Mayoralty.
Government Bills 4.00PM-5.45 PM and 7.30PM-10.ooPM
1.Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Bill – First Reading (Continued)
2.Family Court Proceedings Reform Bill -Committee Stage
3. Copyright (Parallel Importing of Films) Amendment Bill – Second Reading
4. Local Government (Auckland Council) Amendment Bill (No 2) – Second Reading.
The Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Bill is being guided through the house by the Minister of Justice, Judith Collins. This bill empowers the High Court to issue a public protection order to detain a person in a secure facility, when, at the end of a finite prison sentence or subject to the most intensive form of an extended supervision order, they pose a very high risk of imminent and serious sexual or violent reoffending.
The Family Court Proceedings Reform Bill is being guided through the house by the Minister of Justice, Judith Collins. This bill would implement the Government’s decisions resulting from a review of the Family Court conducted by the Ministry of Justice.
The Copyright (Parallel Importing of Films) Amendment Bill is being guided through the house by the Minister of Broadcasting. This bill extends for three years the ban on the commercial parallel importation of films.
The Local Government (Auckland Council) Amendment Bill (No 2) is being guided through the house by the Minister for Local Government, Chris Tremain. This bill seeks to amend the Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 to enable local boards established under the Act to delegate responsibilities, duties or powers conferred or allocated to them under the Act.