Oral Questions 7 February 2012
February 7th, 2012 at 1:15 pm by David Farrar- SIMON BRIDGES to the Minister of Finance: What are the Government’s priorities for the economy in its second term?
- DAVID SHEARER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement “National will deliver a strong, stable government – and build a stronger economy with less debt and more jobs”?
- Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises: What steps, if any, has he taken to ensure that should the Government sell 49 percent of Mighty River Power, Meridian, Genesis and Solid Energy, “New Zealand investors will be at the front of the queue for shareholding, and that there will be widespread and substantial New Zealand share ownership”?
- NIKKI KAYE to the Minister of Education: What reports has she received on the 2011 NCEA results?
- Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he have confidence in all his Ministers?
- GRANT ROBERTSON to the Minister for the Environment:What is the estimated total cost for the clean up after the grounding of the Rena?
- PESETA SAM LOTU-IIGA to the Minister for Social Development: What progress has been made on the Government’s Green Paper for vulnerable children?
- Hon DAVID PARKER to the Prime Minister: Does he have confidence in the decisions of all of his Ministers who were involved in the process for the sale of the Crafar farms?
- SHANE ARDERN to the Minister for Primary Industries: What is the purpose of the Government’s recently announced proposed changes to the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001?
- Dr KENNEDY GRAHAM to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: What has the Government publicly said in response to the attack by Syrian forces on its own citizens in Homs, and how does it see the crisis there being resolved?
- JACINDA ARDERN to the Minister for Social Development: Has she read the Children’s Commissioner’s newsletter Children and poverty: moving beyond rhetoric?
- CHRIS AUCHINVOLE to the Minister of Customs: What recent reports has he received about SmartGate?
So we have five patsies from National. Labour have four questions – Shearer, Robertson, Parker and Ardern – their “top four”. Shearer focusing on the economy (sensible), Robertson on the Rena, Parker on the Crafar farms and Jacinda on child poverty. The crafar question likely to be the most vigorous.
The Greens have two questions – on SOE part-sales and Syria. God knows why they are wasting a question on Syria (it is an important issue, but our influence is zero on it).
The 12th question is NZ First and of course asked by Winston. His is the general do you have confidence in all your Ministers which can go anywhere. He may have an alleged scandal to drop, but more likely will focus on the Maori Party Ministers and National.
After question time, the address in reply debate continues for another 16 hours. If the House adjourns it, then the the top five bills on the order paper are:
- National Animal Identification and Tracing Bill Committee stage
- Road User Charges Bill Committee stage
- Electronic Identity Verification Bill First reading
- Sentencing (Aggravating Factors) Amendment Bill Second reading
- Privacy (Information Sharing) Bill First Reading
Nothing terribly exciting there off memory.
Related posts:
- Parliament 8 February 2012
- Parliament 28 February 2012
- Parliament 9 February 2012
- Parliament 16 February 2011
February 7th, 2012 at 1:43 pm
Let’s make “question time” slightly more interesting by introducing a few “impromptu” questions that ministers of the crown have to answer on the spot.
These questions shouldn’t require a lot of background reference-checking; but should be able to assess a crown minister’s handle on any given affair/topic.
It could be a huge hit with us commoners.
Vote:February 7th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
Dr KENNEDY GRAHAM to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: What has the Government publicly said in response to the attack by Syrian forces on its own citizens in Homs, and how does it see the crisis there being resolved?
I wonder what the Dr would say if the response is: “A bullet between Assad’s eyes would speed up the resolution wouldn’t you think”..
Vote:February 7th, 2012 at 1:59 pm
Dr KENNEDY GRAHAM to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: What has the Government publicly said in response to the attack by Syrian forces on its own citizens in Homs, and how does it see the crisis there being resolved?
Minister of Foreign Affairs to Dr KENNEDY GRAHAM: Greens and like minded groups spent eight years protesting against George Bush’s interventions to save the people of Afghanistan and Iraq from their own muderous governments. The political reality is that no President will now intervene to destroy a government that kills and tortures and loots from its own people. No other country in the world will take decisive action without American leadership. So the people in Homs are fucked. Are you happy to have contributed to this?
Vote:February 7th, 2012 at 2:23 pm
And interesting first up success for new MP David Clark:
I’m a bit surprised he got to put this in the ballot – it was talked about quite a bit by Goff last year – but it is a good one to have in there (as long as it’s unwhipped).
Vote:February 7th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Bevan and Davidp: How I longed for an answer like one of those when listening to the invariable “the sky will fall next Thursday” questions from the oh so serious Greens….
Vote:February 7th, 2012 at 2:44 pm
Tuatai…: We have them sir…they are called supplementary questions..
Vote:February 7th, 2012 at 2:59 pm
wouldnt it be cool to see someone getting Tasered for asking a Patsie Question ?
What a waste of oxygen
Vote:February 7th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
Poor old Jacinda Ardern.
As predicted, pretty hopeless.
If her performance today in question time is any indication
those who suggested that is was a sick joke that she had been elevated to Labours front bench
have been vindicated.
Paula made her look pretty pathetic today.
Talk about the Peter Principle. That was the living proof.
Jacinda is going to need help.
Silent T must be laughing into his sleve.
Vote:February 7th, 2012 at 3:14 pm
That’s news to me David Garrett,
I distinctly recall forwarding both a question and a supplementary question at Youth Parliament weeks in advance. The supplementary question was on paper for me to read out when called upon.
I suppose I shouldn’t be taking Youth Parliament procedures too seriously then, huh?
Thanks for the clarity.
Vote:February 7th, 2012 at 3:17 pm
Winstons big ambush was a fail.
Winston retired hurt, with his tail between his legs.
Vote:February 7th, 2012 at 4:07 pm
Kennedy Graham proves the point that having a plumb in ones mouth does not always equate to intelligence.
The man is simply a moron.
Vote:February 7th, 2012 at 4:15 pm
Does anyone have a link to the video?
Vote:February 7th, 2012 at 4:30 pm
IMO a minister should decline to answer ‘ambush’ supplementary, but say he or she will provide a written response to the House. Alternatively the Minister could request the Speaker to suspend the question until next sitting day so a proper answer can be obtained. However this may take the fun out of QT.
Vote:February 7th, 2012 at 4:34 pm
I suspect often the Minister is quite happy not to be informed and therefore not have to give any kind of substantial answer.
Vote:February 7th, 2012 at 4:49 pm
peterwn
Why would you need to avoid an “ambush” question when they are so pathetic.
Winston shot his big opening bolt today and it was a pittifull fizzer.
Almost cringeworthy. Batted off like a sick fly.
His king hit turned into a damp squib.
Certain pundits were suggesting Winston could be the de facto leader of the opposition. Of dear.
It will take Labour untill about now to realise what a fuck up they made by demoting Silent T.
( their only decent debater) Parker,, what a joke.
These mugs are not capable of mounting ‘an ambush.’ They’re just not up to it.
When you count an air head like Jacinda as one of your big guns………..FFS
Vote:February 7th, 2012 at 4:57 pm
Is there a general debate tomorrow ?
If so, look forward to a massacre. (did i spell that rite?)
look forward to a rout then.
Can’t wait for Jacinda to feature in her new role as “top gun.”
Vote:February 7th, 2012 at 5:11 pm
Now it’s “in the books ” as they say, i’d be interested how you thought the first question time
Vote:shaped up for all the participants today D.F.
Care to rate any of them ?
February 7th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Given that Barbara (I’ll make the scones) Stewart is seated next to Winston First in the house does that make her deputy leader of the party?
Vote:February 7th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Poor ole Dave Shearer took a cocktail stick to a gun fight when he took on JK about land sales to foreigners.
Like Daves lot approved the sale of 410 THOUSAND HECTARES between 04 and 08 THREE TIMES what JKs lot ahev approved INCLUDING Crafar farms.
Not smart Dave.
Vote:February 7th, 2012 at 9:00 pm
Aha, some harder questions.
Resignation-watch: Tariana Turia
Written By: Eddie – Date published: 8:17 pm, February 7th, 2012 – 4 comments
Categories: corruption, winston peters – Tags: government waste, Tariana Turia, whanau ora
Tariana Turia is making hollow threats to leave the government but she might be pushed first. Winston Peters has wasted no time showing how opposition politics is done, using his first question time back to skewer Turia, exposing the massive rorting her Whanau Ora programme. Turia made a slush fund for her mates with our money. She has to go.
Here’s Winnie putting the knife into Key:
http://thestandard.org.nz/resignation-watch-tariana-turia/
Vote:February 7th, 2012 at 9:34 pm
Interesting v2 good post
enjoy your nite
Heralds story
Vote:http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10783968
February 7th, 2012 at 9:47 pm
“Given that Barbara (I’ll make the scones) Stewart is seated next to Winston First in the house does that make her deputy leader of the party?”
No. The Deputy Leader of New Zealand First is Tracey Martin.
Vote:February 7th, 2012 at 9:52 pm
“I wonder what the Dr would say if the response is: “A bullet between Assad’s eyes would speed up the resolution wouldn’t you think”..”
It would not work. It would most probably be construed as an Act of War, by Iran and the Syrian regime. It would not do anything to encourage Russian or Chinese co-operation at the United Nations.
Too much trouble for too little reward.
Vote:February 7th, 2012 at 10:25 pm
Govt keeping mum over Dotcom raid
Tuesday, 7, Feb, 2012 2:46PM
The Government’s staying mum over the heavy handed raid on the residence of Kim Dotcom where unlocked doors were bashed in by gun toting police wearing civilian clothes and bandannas.
New Police Minister Anne Tolley pushed past reporters on her way into the debating chamber when she was asked about it.
“The reality is that this is a case that’s before the courts so I’m unable to make any comment.”
She continued to decline to answer the question, even though she was told that it was before the American courts instead of our courts.
Vote: