August 11, 2015 1:38pm by David Farrar

Parliament 11 August 2015

The order paper is here.

Oral Questions 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm

RON MARK to the Minister for Primary Industries: Does he stand by all his statements?
TIM MACINDOE to the Minister of Finance: What reports has he received on the outlook for the New Zealand economy?
ANDREW LITTLE to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement that New Zealand is on the “cusp of something special”; if so, was that “something special” rising unemployment along with plummeting dairy prices?
ANDREW BAYLY to the Minister for Economic Development:What progress is the Government making in diversifying the New Zealand economy?
ANDREW LITTLE to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement that dairy prices are likely to be low for “a little bit longer”, given the latest auction was a record low?
IAN McKELVIE to the Minister for Primary Industries: What reports has he received on the outlook for primary sector exports?
GRANT ROBERTSON to the Minister of Finance: Does he agree with the Prime Minister that “Dairy is 5% of our economy. So yes dairy prices are down and it’s tough on those dairy farmers who are resilient people, but 95% of our economy is not involved in that”?
DENISE ROCHE to the Minister for the Environment: Why has he announced a plastics recycling initiative rather than a levy when recycling will only maintain the volume of plastic in the waste stream, whereas a levy will reduce the number of plastic bags in circulation?
BARBARA KURIGER to the Minister of Health: Can he confirm that the number of patients benefiting from elective surgery has increased by 5,030 in the last financial year, and that 49,234 more patients are having surgery now compared to 2007/2008?
Hon DAVID PARKER to the Prime Minister: Did he chair the Cabinet on 18 February 2013 when Cabinet noted the initial $4m payment to a “Saudi investor”, and did he ask why Cabinet approval was not being sought?
MELISSA LEE to the Minister of Education: What recent announcement has she made that supports the learning of Asian languages in schools?

National: Five questions on the economy x2, exports, electiver surgery and Asian languages

Labour: Four questions on the economy, dairy prices x2 and the Saudi Arabia farm

Greens: One question on plastic bags

NZ First: One question on Primary Industries Minister standing by his statements

There is one fewer question than normal. Presumably one of the minor parties failed to submit their question by the 10.30 am deadline.

Government Bills 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm and 7.30 pm to 10.00 pm

New Zealand Flag Referendum Bill – committee stage continued

The Bill establishes a process for the holding of 2 postal referendums, firstly to determine which alternative flag design is preferred by voters, and secondly to determine whether that alternative flag or the current flag is to be the New Zealand flag.”

Introduced: March 2015
1st reading: March 2015, passed 76 to 43 with Labour and NZ First opposed
SC report: June 2015, supported with amendments by the majority, Labour dissenting
2nd reading: July 2015, passed 63 to 58 with Labour, Greens and NZ First opposed

There is no set time limit for the committee stage. Part 1 and Part 2 have passed so it is likely remaining debate will be an hour or so.

Appropriation (2015/16 Estimates) Bill – committee stage continued

This Bill authorises the individual appropriations contained in The Estimates of Appropriations for the Government of New Zealand for the year ending 30 June 2016.

Introduced May 2015
1st reading: May 2015, passed without dissent
2nd reading: June 2015, passed 63-58 with Labour, Greens, NZ First against

The debate is an 11 hour debate divided into ten sector debates. The sectors are: