Parliament 5 May 2015
The order paper is here.
Oral Questions 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm
- Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements; if so, why?
- TIM MACINDOE to the Minister of Finance: What reports has he received on low inflation in New Zealand, and how does that benefit households and businesses?
- ANDREW LITTLE to the Prime Minister: Does he enforce high standards of conduct on all his Ministers, including himself?
- DAVID SEYMOUR to the Minister for Economic Development:What are the fiscal risks to the Crown from Tracey Martin’s New Zealand International Convention Centre Act 2013 Repeal Bill, if any?
- PAUL FOSTER-BELL to the Minister of Science and Innovation: What is the Government doing to grow business-led research and development?
- ANDREW LITTLE to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement in relation to achieving a surplus that it is like “landing a 747 on a pinhead”?
- SARAH DOWIE to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: How will Budget 2015 help strengthen compliance with minimum employment standards?
- KEVIN HAGUE to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by all his statements?
- Hon ANNETTE KING to the Minister of Health: Are New Zealanders who require elective surgery receiving it in a timely manner?
- STUART SMITH to the Minister for Disability Issues: How is the Government’s investment in the New Zealand Sign Language Fund helping sign language users to promote and maintain the language during Sign Language Week?
- EUGENIE SAGE to the Minister of Conservation: Does she agree with Professor Mark Urban that New Zealand’s indigenous species are at greater risk of extinction from climate change than species in many other parts of the world; and if not, why not?
- GRANT ROBERTSON to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by his statement that “returning to surplus and repaying debt are among the most important things the Government can do to ensure New Zealand can withstand future shocks and build a more competitive economy based on exports and new jobs”; if so, will there be a surplus for the 2014/15 year?
National: Four patsies on low inflation, research and development, Budget 2015 and Sign Language.
Labour: Four questions on the PM’s conduct, the surplus (x2) and elective surgery
Greens: Two questions does the Minister of Finance stand by his statements and climate change
NZ First: One question on if the PM stands by all his statements
ACT: One question on Sky City Convention Centre Act
There are also two questions to members:
- Hon TREVOR MALLARD to the Chairperson of the Justice and Electoral Committee: How many submitters on the New Zealand Flag Referendums Bill have asked to be heard by the committee and of those how many has she requested to attend to give evidence?
- Hon TREVOR MALLARD to the Chairperson of the Justice and Electoral Committee: How many submitters to the committee on the New Zealand Flag Referendums Bill requesting a yes/no vote has she requested attend to give evidence out of those who made submissions on this point?
Government Bills 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm and 7.30 pm to 10.00 pm
Human Rights Amendment Bill – second reading continued
The Bill amends the Human Rights Act 1993 to enable the establishment of the position of a full-time Disability Rights Commissioner and to make changes to the role and structure of the Commission.
- Introduced: October 2011
- 1st reading: November 2013, passed 105-15 with Greens and Mana against
- Select Committee report: April 2014, supported with amendments with Labour and Greens opposed
The debate has one ten minute speech remaining.
Animal Welfare Amendment Bill – third reading
The Bill amends the Animal Welfare Act 1999 to implement Government decisions resulting from the 2011–12 review to improve the enforceability, clarity, and transparency of New Zealand’s animal welfare system.
- Introduced: May 2013
- 1st reading: August 2013, passed without dissent
- Select Committee report: June 2014, supported with amendments with Greens dissenting
- 2nd reading: November 2014, passed 107-14 with Greens against
- Committee of the Whole House: March 2015, passed without dissent, but with some opposition amendments defeated
The debate has 10 speeches of up to 10 minutes remaining, for a maximum of 100 minutes.
Social Assistance (Portability to Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau) Bill – second reading continued
This bill allows eligible persons who reside in the Cook Islands, Niue, or Tokelau to be able to apply from either of those countries or from that territory for New Zealand superannuation or a veteran’s pension.
- Introduced: July 2014
- 1st reading: November 2014, passed unanimously
- Select committee report: March 2015, supported unanimously by the Social Services Committee, but with minority reports from Labour and NZ First calling for more generous eligibility
The second reading debate has nine speeches of up to 10 minutes each remaining, so a maximum debate of 90 minutes.
New Zealand Business Number Bill – first reading
This bill enables certain entities to obtain, or be allocated, a New Zealand Business Number and to be registered on a New Zealand Business Number Register
- Introduced March 2015
The first reading debate has 12 speeches of up to 10 minutes, so a maximum debate of two hours.
Environmental Reporting Bill – second reading
The bill provides for independent environmental reports in the areas of air, climate and atmosphere, freshwater, marine and land.
- Introduced February 2014
- 1st reading: March 2014, passed 78 to 41 with Labour and NZ First opposed
- Select Committee report: March 2015, supported with amendments by the majority, minority views by Labour and Greens
The second reading debate has 12 speeches of up to 10 minutes, so a maximum debate of two hours.