Parliament 3 May 2012
Oral Questions 2 pm – 3 pm
- Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Minister of Finance: Does he agree with National Bank Chief Economist Cameron Bagrie that we are not seeing an export-led recovery, and increased activity in “spending centric” sectors such as housing is “not the stuff of a durable, long-term, sustainable upswing”?
- JACINDA ARDERN to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment: Does the most recent National Employment Indicator show that there are more or fewer jobs now than when his Government came into office in 2008?
- Hon TAU HENARE to the Minister of Finance: What will be the Government’s approach in the Budget to ensure it remains on track to fiscal surplus in 2014/15?
- Hon PHIL GOFF to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: What is the percentage reduction in foreign policy or diplomatic staff he has set out in his paper to the Cabinet Committee on State Sector Reform and Expenditure Control, dated 26 April 2012?
- JAMI-LEE ROSS to the Minister of Health: What decisions has the Government made in relation to providing better services at Counties Manukau District Health Board?
- TE URUROA FLAVELL to the Minister of Education: What support did her Ministry offer to Moerewa School before the decision was made to close the satellite senior class and send in a Commissioner, Mike Eru, and what is the purpose of his appointment?
- Hon NANAIA MAHUTA to the Associate Minister of Education: Has he read or received the Ministry of Education advice provided to the previous Minister of Education, which states charter schools “have not consistently led to significant increases in achievement”?
- DENIS O’ROURKE to the Minister of Defence: Is he satisfied that all issues arising from the 2010 ANZAC Day helicopter accident have been properly dealt with by the Government and the RNZAF?
- MIKE SABIN to the Associate Minister of Social Development: What steps has the Government recently taken to combat welfare fraud?
- Hon TREVOR MALLARD to the Prime Minister: Did the assurances that Hon John Banks gave his office regarding his compliance with the Local Electoral Act, which he has accepted, include an assurance that any donations for radio advertising during the 2010 mayoral election were correctly recorded?
- CHRIS AUCHINVOLE to the Minister of Conservation: What are the likely benefits of the new tourism-conservation partnership with Air New Zealand?
- CLARE CURRAN to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by his statement to the Otago Daily Times on 21 April 2012 that he was not aware of KiwiRail’s decision to sell off the Dunedin Hillside workshop prior to the announcement?
Today there are four questions from National, five questions from Labour, one from the Greens, one from Maori Party and one from NZ First.
Patsy of the day goes to Q5 – What decisions has the Government made in relation to providing better services at Counties Manukau District Health Board?
Labour are asking on unemployment, MFAT restructuring, charter schools, John Banks and Kiwirail.
Greens are on the economy, Maori Party on Moerewa School and NZ First on the RNZAF helicopter crash.
Government Bills 3.00 pm – 6.00 pm
- Immigration Amendment Bill – first reading
- Commerce Commission (International Co-operation, and Fees) Bill – second reading
- Juries (Jury Service and Protection of Particulars of Jury List Information) Amendment Bill – second reading
- Airports (Cost Recovery for Processing of International Travellers) Bill – committee stage
- Sentencing (Aggravating Factors) Amendment Bill – committee stage
The Immigration Amendment Bill was introduced in April 2012 and seeks to enhance New Zealand’s ability to deter people-smuggling to New Zealand.
The Commerce Commission (International Co-operation, and Fees) Bill was introduced in September 2008.
The Juries (Jury Service and Protection of Particulars of Jury List Information) Amendment Bill was introduced in April 2011.
The Airports (Cost Recovery for Processing of International Travellers) Bill was introduced in November 2010 and seeks to enable the Crown to recover the costs of aviation security, biosecurity, and customs traveller processing from the operators of international airports. It passed first reading on a voice vote and the same for the second reading.
The Sentencing (Aggravating Factors) Amendment Bill was introduced in October 2010 and seeks to ensure that an offence committed against a Police officer or prison officer acting in the course of his or her duty is taken into account as an aggravating factor at sentencing. It was supported by all parties bar the Maori Party at first reading, and passed second reading on a voice vote. The Government has indicated they will support a Labour amendment to include other emergency service operators in the bill.