Parliament Today 20 May 2014

Questions for Oral Answer.

Questions to Ministers 2.00PM-3.00PM.

  1. PAUL GOLDSMITH to the Minister of Finance: How will Budget 2014 continue to support a growing economy, including jobs, higher wages and delivery of better public services?
  2. Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE to the : Does he stand by his statement, “there's no fundamental underlying reasons to believe there's a problem in our housing market”?
  3. METIRIA TUREI to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?
  4. Hon DAVID PARKER to the Minister of Finance: Does he agree with the reported statement, last Friday, from the Prime Minister who would not rule out an increase in GST?
  5. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he have confidence in the Minister of Justice; if so, why?
  6. Dr CAM CALDER to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment: How will Budget 2014 advance the Government's work to strengthen the New Zealand tertiary education system?
  7. JACINDA ARDERN to the Minister of Finance: How will the changes to the Parental Tax Credit he announced in the 2014 Budget help those who, as he states, are at “the hard end of poverty”?
  8. JOANNE HAYES to the Minister for ACC: What reports has she received which show New Zealanders could pay lower ACC levies in 2015?
  9. PHIL TWYFORD to the Minister of Housing: Is he concerned that New Zealand has gone from the 10th highest rate of house price growth in the OECD from 2004-2011 to the highest in 2013?
  10. Dr KENNEDY GRAHAM to the Prime Minister: Has he received information that any other New Zealander, apart from Daryl Jones, has been killed in United States drone strikes; if so, what was that information?
  11. Hon MARYAN STREET to the Minister of Justice: Does she stand by all her statements?
  12. SCOTT SIMPSON to the Minister of Conservation: What new measures will the Government be able to take to contain and control the kauri dieback disease as a consequence of the $26.5 million committed in the Budget?

Today Labour are asking about the housing market twice, an increase in GST, the Parental Tax Credit, and whether the Minister of Justice stands by all her statements. The Greens are asking whether the Prime Minister stands by all his statements, and a drone strike on a New Zealand citizen. New Zealand First is asking if the Prime Minister has confidence in the Minister of Justice.

Patsy of the day goes to Scott Simpson for Question 12: What new measures will the Government be able to take to contain and control the kauri dieback disease as a consequence of the $26.5 million committed in the Budget?

Government Bills 3.00PM-6.00PM and 7.30PM-10.00.

1. Appropriation (2014/15 Estimates) Bill – Second Reading

2. Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill (No 3)– Third Reading

3. Food Bill – Third Reading

4. Vulnerable Children Bill – Committee Reading

The Appropriation (2014/15 Estimates) Bill (The Budget) is  being guided through the house by the Minister of Finance, . bill seeks parliamentary authorisation of the individual appropriations contained in The Estimates of Appropriations for the Government of New Zealand for the year ending 30 June 2015 .

The Act 2002 Amendment Bill (No 3) is being guided throught the house by the Minister of Local Government, Paula Bennett. This bill would implement the Government's second phase of legislative reform relating to the operation of local government.

The Food Bill is being guided through the house by the Minister for Food Safety, Kikki Kaye. The bill introduces substantial reforms to the regulatory regime for the safety and suitability of food.

The Vulnerable Bill is being guided through the house by the Minister for Social Development, Paula Bennett. This is an omnibus bill that proposes establishing the Vulnerable Children Act and the Child Harm Prevention Orders Act. The purpose of the proposed amendments is to protect and improve the well-being of vulnerable children.