Parliament 20 June 2012

Oral Questions 2 pm – 3 pm

1. Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Prime Minister: In relation to the Government’s asset sales policy, does he stand by his reported comments that he has yet to see any official advice on a so-called “bonus scheme” for people who buy shares?
2. PAUL GOLDSMITH to the Minister of Finance: How is the Government’s economic programme helping to build sustainable growth and higher incomes?
3. GRANT ROBERTSON to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements on asset sales?
4. Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA to the Minister for Social Development:What announcements has she recently made that will support the work of budgeting services around New Zealand?
5. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement to Parliament of 8 February 2011; in particular that “The Government is building the foundations that will encourage growth in exports”?
6. Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE to the Minister of Energy and Resources: Does he agree with Molly Melhuish’s calculation that the amount charged by SOEs for electricity for an average consumer is $265 per annum less than is charged by non-SOE retailers, and if not, what was the weighted average of the annual total retail price charged by SOEs and their subsidiaries to a residential consumer using 8,000 kilowatt hours of electricity compared with the weighted average of the price charged by non-SOE suppliers, according to the most recent data?
7. JAN LOGIE to the Minister for Social Development: Will she consider reviewing benefit levels in light of recent University of Otago research that shows that the 40 percent increase in real power prices since 2002 is now a health issue?
8. KATRINA SHANKS to the Minister of Veterans’ Affairs: What is the Government doing to meet its commitment to allow fit and able New Zealand World War II veterans to attend key 70th Anniversary commemorations overseas?
9. Hon DAVID PARKER to the Minister of Finance: What are the Treasury projections for New Zealand’s net international liabilities in 2016 as a percentage of GDP and in dollars, and what is the increase in dollars from the end of the year ended 30 June 2011?
10. HONE HARAWIRA to the Minister of Internal Affairs: What is the Government doing about pokie venues operating without a licence in poor communities like Otara, Porirua and Flaxmere?
11. IAN McKELVIE to the Minister of Transport: What updates has he received on the state of repairs of the Manawatu Gorge?
12. JACINDA ARDERN to the Minister for Social Development: Does she stand by her statement with regard to the Community Response Fund that “We listened to concerns that the fund was due to finish. The effects of the recession were still being felt, so we’re putting more funding in for 2011/12.”?

Patsy of the day goes to Q2 – How is the Government’s economic programme helping to build sustainable growth and higher incomes?

Labour are asking on asset sales, power prices, debt and welfare.

Greens are on asset sales and benefits, Mana on pokies and NZ First on exports.

General Debate 3.00 pm – 4.00 pm

The weekly slugfest with 12 speeches of five minutes each.

Government Bills 4.00 pm – 6.00 pm and 7.30 pm – 10.00 pm

1. Mixed Ownership Model Bill – committee stage continued
2. Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims (2012 Expiry and Application Dates) Amendment Bill – second reading
3. Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill – second reading continued

The Mixed Ownership Bill committee debate has concluded Part 1 but some time left on Part 2. It is unlikely to take up all of today, so I expect the House will get onto the second bill, but probably not the third.

The Mixed Ownership Model Bill was introduced in March 2012 and enables the Crown to  remove Genesis Power Limited, Meridian Energy Limited, Mighty River Power Limited, and Solid Energy New Zealand Limited from the State-Owned Enterprises Act 1986, and restricts the Crown from holding less than 51% of the voting rights in each of the companies and will restrict non-Crown individuals and entities from holding more than 10% of the voting rights in each of the companies. It passed first reading 61-60 with National, ACT, United Future in favour and all other parties against. The Finance and Expenditure reported it back with minority reports from Labour and Greens. It passed second reading 61-59.

The Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims (2012 Expiry and Application Dates) Amendment Bill was introduced in April 2012 and aims to  extend the restrictions on the awarding of compensation for one more year from 1 July 2012 until 30 June 2013. It passed first reading 72 to 48 with National, NZ First, Maori, ACT, United in favour and Labour, Greens, Mana against. The Justice and Electoral Committee recommended that it pass, with minority reports from Labour and Greens.

The Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill was introduced in March 2012 and seeks to  introduce a new regime in relation to Fonterra’s milk price setting, proposed capital restructure, and share valuation. It passed first reading 64 to 54 with Labour, Greens, NZ First and Mana against. The Primary Production Committee recommended it pass with amendments, with Labour and Greens giving minority reports.