Robertson Grant; O'Connor GregOFFICES OF PARLIAMENTAddress to Governor-GeneralHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Leader of the House): I move That a respectful Address be presented to Her Excellency the Governor-General commending to Her Excellency the alterations to the appropriations for the 2022/23 financial year in respect of Vote Audit Vote Ombudsmen and Vote Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment and the Estimates and capital injection for the 2023/24 financial year in respect of Vote Audit Vote Ombudsmen and Vote Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.This is an annual event for the House. It concerns the appropriations for our three Offices of Parliament: the Controller and Auditor-General the Ombudsman and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. As is described in the motion that I've just moved it sets out alterations for the year that we're in now for inclusion in the Supplementary Estimates bill and sets out the main appropriations that will be included in the main appropriation bill that I will introduce on Budget day. The reason we do it this way round is to emphasise the independence of these Offices of Parliament from the executive.The proposals in the address have been examined by the Officers of Parliament Committee which has the Speaker as its chairperson. I want to thank all members of the committee for their careful consideration of these matters which they did with some advice available to them from Treasury officials. The committee's report explains the issues behind the numbers proposed in the address and I've no doubt that other members of the committee may choose to address some of those matters in their contributions in the debate.All three Offices of Parliament are reporting an increasingly complex changing and demanding environment that puts additional pressure upon resources. The Auditor-General is facing larger-than-usual deficits over the next three years which the committee informs us is due to increasing audit complexity—mostly relating to COVID-19—pressure on auditors' capacity and availability and audit costs rising faster than audit fees while Audit New Zealand works to increase its staffing. The committee therefore have agreed that a non-recoverable capital injection totalling $16 million over three years of $2 million in this financial year $7 million in the next and the remainder in the following year are appropriate. Audit delays because of COVID-19 and higher staff turnover are an issue. The committee has told us that the Auditor-General is addressing these issues with approaches that include raising fees and seeking greater financial efficiencies.COVID-19 also continues to have a significant impact on the work of the Ombudsman whose responsibilities have expanded in recent years including the managed isolation and quarantine facilities the protected disclosure Act investigations and enhanced oversight of Oranga Tamariki. Legislation that has just come into force has also expanded the Ombudsman's jurisdiction to cover providers of care and custody under Oranga Tamariki. The Ombudsman has welcomed this change though it will increase work for the office. The Ombudsman's also forecasting an increase in complaints driven by Cyclone Gabrielle and flooding in 2023. Again as similar with the Auditor-General retaining trained staff and experienced staff is also an issue and the committee tells us that they support a one-off targeted payment for high-performing staff.Issues around staffing were also raised by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment who faces a growing need to source external legal and scientific advice as well. The Parliamentary Commissioner has not sought an increase to his appropriation in this Budget round though he foresees a need for additional funding in a Budget round in the near future.The three Officers of Parliament continue to provide excellent work on behalf of New Zealanders and make a strong contribution to our democracy. I want to reiterate that it is my job here today to move this. This is the report of the Officers of Parliament Committee. They make their decision independent of the executive but we need to do it now tonight so that it gets into the Budget processes that start next week. So on that basis I commend this motion to the House.DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question is that the motion be agreed to. I just note that the motion includes the words of expenses" which the Minister did leave out on the fourth line."