Parliament 25th October 2012

Oral Questions 2.00pm to 3.00pm

Questions to Ministers

  1. Hon DAVID PARKER to the of Finance: Does he stand by his answer on Tuesday regarding jobs “I think that the number of 170,000 may come from the initial Budget forecast for 2009, perhaps. I cannot remember the year exactly.”?
  2. Dr KENNEDY GRAHAM to the Minister for Climate Change Issues: Given the recent loss of Māori Party support for his Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill, will he consider working with opposition parties on amendments to improve it?
  3. LOUISE UPSTON to the Minister of Finance: How is the Government's infrastructure programme contributing to building a more competitive economy?
  4. Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE to the Minister for Economic Development: Does he agree with the NZIER shadow board that “the growth outlook for the second half of 2012 looks weak and unemployment remains stubbornly high.”?
  5. IAN McKELVIE to the Minister for Social Development: What announcements has she made to review Child Youth and Family's complaints process?
  6. Hon MARYAN STREET to the Minister of Health: What progress has been made in the delivery of the 's Youth Mental Health Project announced in April of this year with an extra $11.3 million provided to support it?
  7. JACQUI DEAN to the Minister for the : What reports has she received on the time taken for decisions on notified consents issued under the Resource Management Act 1991?
  8. GARETH HUGHES to the Minister of Affairs: Why did New Zealand pull out of a joint proposal with the States to create a marine reserve in Antarctica's Ross Sea?
  9. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by the answers he gave yesterday to supplementary question 5 on Oral Question No 7 and supplementary question 3 on Oral Question No 12?
  10. NICKY WAGNER to the Minister for Canterbury Recovery: What progress has the Government made to support repairing damaged houses and infrastructure following the Canterbury earthquakes?
  11. SUE MORONEY to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement on 3News last night, on the subject of Business New Zealand's assertion that women need retraining when returning to employment after extended parental leave that “no. It wouldn't be my view”?
  12. JAMI-LEE ROSS to the Minister of Immigration: What is the Government doing to ensure that New Zealanders have first priority for jobs in the Canterbury rebuild?

Today there are 5 questions towards ministers from National, 4 from Labour, 2 from the Greens and 1 from New Zealand First

Labour are asking about the jobs forecast in budget 2012, economic growth and unemployment, youth mental health and paid parental leave.

Green's are asking about the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill and in the Ross Sea.

New Zealand First are asking the Prime Minister about answers he gave in regards to Kim Dot Com in Parliament on Wednesday. In particular the answer he gave to question 7.

“When did he first learn of a German resident living in the Chrisco mansion in the Prime Minister's electorate?” 

Pasty of the day

Today's pasty of the day goes to question 7 from National asking about reports received on consents issued under the

JACQUI DEAN to the Minister for the Environment: What reports has she received on the time taken for decisions on notified consents issued under the Resource Management Act 1991?”

Government Bills 3.00pm to 6.00pm

1) Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill– 2nd reading – 12x 10 min speeches – 3.00pm to 4.00pm

This bill is designed to amend the Climate Change Response Act 2002 which deals with the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) in New Zealand via proposed changes including operational and technical changes to the ETS as a result of the review of the scheme conducted in 2011. One of the proposed changes is the intention to remove the requirement for our agriculture sector to be involved in the scheme from 2015. In addition, the bill gives forest owners more flexibility especially for forests planted before 1990.

2) Taxation (Annual Rates, Returns Filing, and Remedial Matters) Bill– 3rd reading – 12x 10 min speeches – 4.00pm to 5.00pm

This bill is designed to set the tax rates for the 2012/2013 year as well as minor changes to the filling and storage of tax returns. In addition, it amends acts such as the Kiwisaver Act 2006

3) Financial Markets Conduct Bill– 2nd reading – 12x 10 min speeches – 5.00pm to 6.00pm

This bill is designed to merge several other pieces of legislation into one act with the primary purpose of the bill is to promote  confidence in the financial markets for investors, business and customers of financial services products. In addition, this bill contains sections on how financial services products can be sold and adds additional regulation to people working in this sector including new rules for misleading or false statements.