December 11, 2012 12:29pm by Jordan.M

Parliament 11 December 2012

Questions for Oral Answer 2.00pm – 3.00pm

Questions to Ministers.

  1. DAVID SHEARER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement “I am deeply concerned about every child in New Zealand who is in poverty”; if so, why has the number of children living in material hardship grown under his watch?
  2. TODD McCLAY to the Minister of Finance: What measures has the Government taken to support vulnerable New Zealanders through the aftermath of the domestic recession and global financial crisis?
  3. METIRIA TUREI to the Prime Minister: When he said “we don’t want to see any New Zealand child suffer … children don’t get to make choices, they’re often the victim of circumstance” does that mean he will take tangible steps to ensure children don’t suffer because of circumstances beyond their control?
  4. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he have confidence in the Minister of Immigration?
  5. Hon DAVID PARKER to the Minister of Finance: Compared to 2012, does the Reserve Bank forecast the New Zealand dollar (as measured by the Trade Weighted Index) to strengthen or weaken in the next two years, and does he believe this will make New Zealand exporters more competitive or less competitive?
  6. DAVID BENNETT to the Minister for Economic Development: How is the Government encouraging the sustainable use of natural resources to support jobs and grow the economy?
  7. Hon MARYAN STREET to the Minister of Health: Is he satisfied with the state of children’s health in New Zealand; if not, why not?
  8. COLIN KING to the Minister of Energy and Resources: What recent announcement has he made about Block Offer 2012?
  9. EUGENIE SAGE to the Minister for the Environment: Does she agree with the New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society in relation to freshwater that “failure to act with decisiveness and urgency risks further environmental degradation and erosion of our international environmental reputation”; if not, why not?
  10. Hon LIANNE DALZIEL to the Minister for Building and Construction: How quickly will he respond to the building performance, assessment and construction recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Building Failure caused by the Canterbury Earthquakes?
  11. NICKY WAGNER to the Minister for Building and Construction: What is the Government doing in response to the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission’s full report?
  12. CLARE CURRAN to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?

Today Labour have five questions, the Greens have two and New Zealand First has one.  Labour are asking about child poverty, the strength of the New Zealand dollar, children’s health, Canterbury building failures and a general question to the Prime Minister on whether he stands by all his statements. The Greens are also asking about child poverty and pollution of freshwater. Winston is asking the Prime Minister if he has confidence in the Minister of Immigration.

Patsy question of the day goes to Colin King for Question 8: What recent announcement has he made about Block Offer 2012?

Government Bills 3.00pm -6-00pm and 7.30pm until 10.00pm. 

1. Appropriation (2011/12 Financial Review) Bill – Second reading

2. Resource Management Reform Bill – First reading

3.Sale and Supply of Alcohol Bill (Alcohol Reform) Amendment Bill – Third reading

4.Local Government (Alcohol Reform)  Amendment Bill – Third reading

5.Summary Offences (Alcohol Reform) Amendment Bill – Third reading

The Appropriation (2011/12 Financial Review) Bill was read a first time in December 2012, introduced to the House last month by Minister of Finance Bill English. The purpose of this bill is to confirm and validate financial matters relating to the 2011/12 financial year.

The Resource Management Reform Bill is being read for the first time and was introduced by Amy Adams at the beginning of December 2012. The aim of the Bill is to amend the Resource Management Act 1991 (the RMA), the Local Government (Auckland Transitional Provisions) Act 2010, and the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 to delivers some fast, discrete improvements to the consenting regime, provide for the delivery of the first combined plan for Auckland, provide further powers to make regulations, and make technical and operational change.

The Alcohol Reform Bill was introduced by Simon Power in 2010, as the then Minister of Justice. Judith Collins, the current Minister of Justice is now guiding the legislation through the house. The bill implements the Government’s decisions on the reform of alcohol legislation; decisions made in response to the Law Commission’s 2010 report on alcohol. The bill has now been split into three parts, amending three different pieces of legislation.