Parliament 1 December 2015

The order paper is here.

Oral Questions 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm

1. MARK MITCHELL to the Minister of Finance: What reports has he received showing a recent lift in business confidence supports an outlook for continuing moderate growth and a more diversified economy?
2. ANDREW LITTLE to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement that New Zealand “shouldn’t be a leader in climate change”, given that New Zealand was awarded the “Fossil of the Day award” following his speech on the first day of the Paris climate talks?
3. Dr SHANE RETI to the Minister of Health: Can he confirm that as at September 2015 99.31 percent of patients waiting for elective surgery received their treatment within four months?
4. GRANT ROBERTSON to the Minister of Finance: Does he agree with the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery that Treasury has an “arrogant bureaucratic attitude” to Christchurch and that the report he released yesterday is “utter tripe”; if not, why not?
5. METIRIA TUREI to the Minister of Revenue: What has been the overall impact of tax deductions for petroleum and mining expenditures on the level of oil and gas exploration and prospecting in New Zealand since 2012/13, and how much revenue has the Government forgone as a result of these tax deductions in this period?
6. SARAH DOWIE to the Minister of Education: What announcements has she made recently on trades academies?
7. CHRIS HIPKINS to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment: Is he satisfied with the oversight he and his officials have of spending on tertiary education programmes?
8. JAMI-LEE ROSS to the Minister for Building and Housing: Can he confirm that the number of building consents issued for homes in Auckland in October 2015 was 805 as compared with 205 in October 2008, and that the yearly total is the highest in 11 years?
9. FLETCHER TABUTEAU to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by all his statements?
10. Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR to the Minister for Food Safety: Is she satisfied by all the advice she has received from the Ministry of Primary Industries on food safety?
11. DAVID BENNETT to the Minister of Customs: How will the Government’s investment in new SmartGate border processing technology make travel easier for passengers this Christmas?
12. MOJO MATHERS to the Minister for Primary Industries: What percentage of complaints made to the Ministry for Primary Industries about animal cruelty result in prosecutions?

National: Five questions on business confidence, elective surgery, trades academies, building consents and SmartGate

Labour: Four questions on climate change, Treasury, tertiary education and food safety

Greens: Two questions mining tax deductions and animal cruelty

NZ First: One question on Finance Minister standing by his statement

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

Support for Children in Hardship Bill – committee stage continued

This Bill is an omnibus Bill introduced under Standing Order 263(a). The Bill strengthens work expectations and increases assistance for parents on a benefit and who have dependent children from 1 April 2016.

• Introduced: May 2015
• 1st reading: May 2015, passed 109 to 12 with NZ First opposed
• Select Committee report: October 2015, supported by majority with amendments with minority reports from Labour, Greens and NZ First
• 2nd reading: November 2015, passed unanimously

There is no time limit for the committee stage but it is estimated to be a four hour debate as the bill has three parts and preliminary provisions to debate. One part has been partially debated, so there are probably three to four hours remaining.

Taxation (Annual Rates for 2015-16, Research and Development, and Remedial Matters) Bill – committee stage continued

The bill is an omnibus bill that significantly amends ten different tax acts,especially in the area of child support.

• Introduced: February 2015
• 1st reading: March 2015, passed unanimously
• SC report: September 2015, supported unanimously with amendments
• 2nd reading: October 2015, passed unanimously

There is no time limit for the committee stage but it is estimated to be a five hour debate as the bill has four parts and preliminary provisions to debate. Two parts have been agreed to, so there are probably two to three hours remaining.

The Minister has two SOPs.

Radio New Zealand Amendment Bill – committee stage continued

The bill amends the Radio New Zealand Act 1995 to implement a new Radio New Zealand Charter

• Introduced: June 2009
• 1st reading: June 2009, passed unanimously
• SC report: December 2009, supported without amendments with a minority report from Labour
• 2nd reading: May 2015, passed unanimously

There is no time limit for the committee stage but it is estimated to be a one hour debate as the bill will be voted on as one question.

The Minister has one SOP.

Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Amendment Bill – committee stage continued

The bill amends the Weathertight Home Resolution Services Act 2006 to remove any doubt about the validity of the criteria, deem certain claims determined as ineligible to be eligible, and to widen the definition of qualifying claimant.

• Introduced: February 2015
• 1st reading: March 2015, passed unanimously
• Select Committee report: July 2015, supported unanimously with amendments
• 2nd reading: September 2015, passed unanimously

There is no time limit for the committee stage but it is estimated to be a three hour debate as the bill has two parts and preliminary provisions to debate. One part has been debated, so there are probably one to two hours remaining.