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Hipkins ChrisHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education): I think that's a very fair question to ask. Certainly there hasn't been a particularly loud chorus of people calling for the reforms to be delayed that I have seen any evidence of. What I have seen is that there are some who I think are wanting to move dangerously fast and I think we have to be very careful about that as well. But there's certainly an acknowledgment that we're likely to see quite significant growth quite quickly and we need to be able to adapt to and to prepare for that. But if I use an example of one of the reasons one of the problems with the current system that the COVID response has highlighted is our current systems treat on-the-job training and off-the-job training completely separately and actually we need them to be treated as part of the same system. So those apprentices for example who have been at home for the last six weeks or so have been saying Why can't we be working to do distance learning that could be supported by one of the polytechs for example whilst we're at home picking up learning that we can then take back to our on-job apprenticeship when we're in a position to be able to get back on to the work site?" and that's a very reasonable request. That's actually one of the reasons why industry now are pushing for faster reform and a greater uptake of things like micro-credentials so that we can get people job-ready faster."
SpeechHon NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central): Just to make a few comments in response to the Minister's comments and my colleague Shane Reti will no doubt have more to say on this but the question that is asked of us and I'm sure of the Minister is given that we are then going to be spending a whole lot of time on disruption of the personnel in tertiary institutions the amount of money and the fact that a lot of this reform hasn't occurred it could be very much a hindrance on our ability to be focusing on the main task at hand which is to upskill people to ensure that they are studying that they are in training when we are focused on the reorganisation of assets and the creation of these workforce development councils. So my second question as a follow-up on that is: does he acknowledge and admit that there are a number of people in the tertiary sector that are arguing for either a pause on this for a period of time or to scrap the reforms so that we can put all pedal to the metal and do everything possible to ensure that people are being upskilled rather than stripping assets away from the community and focusing on that reorganisation? Instead we're going to have huge institutional knowledge lost and not enough people focused on that training but rather they'll be focused on that institutional reform.
Hipkins ChrisHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education): Yes I'm very happy to answer that question on the review of vocational education. Yes indeed I do think now is the right time for us to be reforming vocational education. The Government's working on the basis that we're likely to see quite a significant increase in participation in post-school education. That's something we saw after the global financial crisis (GFC) and something we saw during I think the last big economic shock that happened before that which I think was the Asian financial crisis before that. So we know that when we see higher unemployment we see higher rates of tertiary education participation but we know from both of those previous experiences that I mentioned that that doesn't necessarily lead to better employment outcomes following the economic recovery that then follows unless we're getting those people into the right places. Certainly after the GFC I think the last Government undertook some reforms of tertiary education partly on the basis that they weren't convinced that the increase in participation was being driven in the right direction and that concern still remains. So one of the reasons for establishing workforce development councils for example is to ensure that we can channel people into programmes that are likely to improve their employability at the other end of it.
SpeechHon NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central): Firstly I want to take a moment to acknowledge everybody out there in New Zealand who has been doing it tough but in particular alongside the Minister can I acknowledge our civic leaders our educators our teachers and our principals who have not only been supporting their families but then have been trying to deliver remote learning and now some of them are also trying to deliver physical learning. I realise this is an annual review debate. I'm going to make a few comments at the outset and then I do want to take a number of questions to the Minister. The first thing that I would acknowledge is around the backdrop of this annual review and some of the items in this annual review that in our view have related to very ideological reform and they're very relevant at this period when we are moving into a position where we don't have unlimited cash. More than ever we will be seeing how we can power up our education system to ensure that people are participating or upskilling. So my questions for the Minister are around the items in the annual review that relate to vocational reform and Tomorrow's Schools. There are tens of millions or actually hundreds of millions that have been planned around this vocational reform. My question for the Minister is: does he think that's the right use of expenditure? Given the situation that we're in we may need to upskill hundreds of thousands of Kiwis and should we be undertaking such disruptive reform in the vocational sector?
SpeechANNUAL REVIEW DEBATEIn Committee Debate resumed from 29 April on the Appropriation (2018/19 Confirmation and Validation) Bill. CHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): The House in committee for further consideration of the Appropriation (2018/19 Confirmation and Validation) Bill. All annual reviews are available for debate but only specific Ministers will be available each day to respond and the Government has indicated that the Hon Chris Hipkins the Minister of Education Minister of State Services and Minister Responsible for Ministerial Services will be available today. For those of you that haven't been taking part in this debate I am in the Chair but I'm remaining here so that we keep safe distances and the Minister remains and speaks from his seat. Remember that we have also set aside the Standing Orders restricting the four- or five-minute speeches so that we can have good interaction with the Minister during the debate. The time remaining in this debate is one hour and 40 minutes. Kieran McAnulty moved that progress be reported and the call is now available to him if he so wishes.
Ministerial Statements — COVID-19—State of National Emergency
Clark DavidHon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): In reply I think it's been widely acknowledged that the public health response is indeed the best economic response. I would not like to in any way minimise the experience of those who reported to the select committee this morning. Whilst I was not able to personally hear their testimonies second hand what I have heard is distressing and I do want to acknowledge the situation of people facing end of life or major life events in a lonely situation. I expect that health officials will learn from reviewing some of those cases.The Minister of Civil Defence took the step to further extend the state of national emergency because of the unprecedented nature of this global pandemic and because the response required to combat this disease successfully in terms of going hard and going early is of such a magnitude that it is not something that is within the capacity of local civil defence emergency management groups to respond to on their own. We only need to look overseas to see those who have not taken these drastic steps early on in their disease progression to see that many of them are still in lockdown and still bearing the economic consequences as well as the health consequences. A strong public health response will position us best for a rapid economic recovery.
Woodhouse MichaelHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National): The powers granted to the Minister under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act require that he or she consider whether an emergency has occurred or will occur and on 25 March there was a very real prospect that an emergency could occur. We had I think on that day 62 cases confirmed and in the two weeks following on the day that the civil defence emergency was extended there were similar numbers. In the last three weeks we have had five cases on that day then zero cases on that day then zero cases yesterday when it was extended and I think it's appropriate to ask the Minister: is the extension because an emergency has occurred is occurring or will occur? Because New Zealand has paid a very heavy price for the extension of these emergencies and they've done so willingly because they knew what the risk was. The team of 5 million certainly overwhelmingly supported the Government's call to be locked down to stay home to save lives to stamp COVID out and that has come at a significant cost economically but also in the non-COVID health impacts of this emergency. We in the Epidemic Response Committee heard harrowing stories this morning of cancer not being treated of miscarriages not being supported by their loved ones of birth being traumatic as a consequence and of the end of life also not being sufficiently supported. But we've stamped it out; in fact we're still jumping up and down on it at zero. But there's another emergency occurring. It's an economic emergency. It's in those health emergencies—what Dr Chris Jackson this morning said was the non-COVID cancer casualties of this. Billions of dollars are being spent and thousands of people are joining jobseeker support every single day of this emergency and the public has done its bit. I ask: why when the public has done its bit does the Government not do its bit? The Government assures us they are ready. They are at gold standard on testing on tracing on PPE and as the Director-General of Health has stated this virus could pop back up like weeds on a lawn. That is the case and will be the case until a vaccine is found. So I ask: if not now to lift the emergency then when? When will it be the right time? If at zero—or two today—we're still not ready are we in a state of emergency because it's occurred or because it will still occur in the future and what does that say about the Government's response? We've done our bit. It's time to lift the lockdown. It's time to end the state of emergency.
Clark DavidWEDNESDAY 6 MAY 2020The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.Prayers.MINISTERIAL STATEMENTSCOVID-19—State of National EmergencyHon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health) on behalf of the Minister of Civil Defence: I wish to make a ministerial statement under Standing Order 356 informing the House of an extension of the state of national emergency to Wednesday 13 May 2020. On behalf of the coalition Government and the Government's confidence and supply partner at 12:21 p.m. 25 March 2020 having considered the advice of the Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management and in consultation with the Prime Minister under section 66 of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act the Hon Peeni Henare Minister of Civil Defence declared a state of national emergency for the whole of New Zealand to help manage the impact of COVID-19. A state of national emergency lasts for seven days unless extended. The Minister has so far extended this state of emergency six times—most recently yesterday. The state of national emergency will now expire at 12:21 p.m. Wednesday 13 May unless further extended or terminated earlier.Minister Henare did not make these decisions lightly. This is the first time in history that a state of national emergency covering the whole of New Zealand has been declared as we needed to act to combat the virus and to break the chain of infection across the entire country. It is only the second time in New Zealand's history that a state of national emergency has been declared at all with the first being specifically for Christchurch City on 23 February 2011 in response to the February Christchurch earthquake. The Minister took the step to further extend the state of national emergency because of the unprecedented nature of this global pandemic and because the response required to combat COVID-19 is of such a magnitude and severity that it is beyond the capacity of local civil defence emergency management groups to respond to it on their own.I would like to thank each and every New Zealander volunteer group community organisation local government civil defence emergency management group Government agency and business across the country for their outstanding and extraordinary efforts in response to COVID-19.
Tuesday 5 May 2020 - Volume 745
COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Bill — First Reading
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Bill be now read a first time.Ayes 119New Zealand National 55; New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8; Ross.Noes 1ACT New Zealand 1.Bill read a first time.Bill referred to the Epidemic Response Committee.
12. Question No. 12—HealthGINNY ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 12—Health12. GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Minister of Health: How has the rollout of new frontline mental health services been affected by COVID-19?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): Despite disruptions caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic work has continued on the roll-out of the free front-line mental health and addiction services funded through Budget 2019. By June next year 1.5 million New Zealanders will have access to free mental health care at their GP or primary care outlet. This work is well under way with more than 100 sites receiving a combined investment of $40 million in this roll-out. Rolling out such an ambitious new service requires an entirely new workforce. We've made sure not to lose momentum during the lockdown and have adapted the training so that it can be delivered virtually. Ginny Andersen: How has the provision of these services been affected by COVID-19? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I am pleased to report that services have continued to be delivered via phone and videoconferencing throughout alert levels 4 and 3 and more broadly mental health services have always been considered an essential service. Therefore their provision has continued throughout all COVID-19 alert levels. Ginny Andersen: What other extra mental health support has the Government made available to New Zealanders feeling the effects of COVID-19? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Many people across New Zealand will be feeling distress or anxiety about the future because of COVID-19. I want people to know that it is normal to feel this way in times of uncertainty and that there is a range of free support available. Over the past weeks the Government has announced online information for parents awareness campaigns apps e-therapy and tools to help people maintain their mental wellbeing throughout this unusual time. These tools have been brought on stream quickly to complement a wider package of support such as face-to-face sessions and the 1737 number.
3. Question No. 3—Māori Crown Relations: Te ArawhitiKIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour) to the Minister for Māori Crown Relations: Te ArawhitiQuestion No. 3—Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti3. KIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour) to the Minister for Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti: What actions has he taken to assist Māori in helping to keep communities safe from COVID-19?Hon KELVIN DAVIS (Minister for Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti): Before the country headed into level 4 we announced a $56.5 million Māori response package to assist Māori in their fight against the spread of COVID-19. Māori were quick to activate their network and deliver practical support in the early stages of our fight against COVID-19. Their response was immediate and we as a Government worked with Māori to ensure the resources and funding announced in our Māori response package helped them in all the work they were undertaking. I'd like to thank iwi up and down the country for their hard work for their cooperation and for their future efforts as we move through these unprecedented times.Kiritapu Allan: What did the Māori response package funding deliver to Māori?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: This package was able to support 43 Māori groups and iwi to develop their own pandemic response plans. It delivered business support and advice to 632 businesses it enabled 2029 interactions with Māori business via an 0800 number it provided extra funding to Māori health providers and Māori-led testing stations and it helped Māori to resource volunteers to reach out to our most vulnerable and isolated communities and in particular our kaumātua and kuia.Kiritapu Allan: How did this funding provide support for vulnerable Māori whānau across Aotearoa?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: This funding helps support some of our most vulnerable communities in particular kaumātua and kuia and those in isolated areas. Part of the package was to boost the work of Whānau Ora commissioning agencies who because of the Māori response package were able to deliver close to 120000 care packages to vulnerable whānau and over 64000 whānau members have received support through commissioning agencies. This proves that when Māori and the Crown work in partnership we can successfully deliver to Māori across the country.
Mallard TrevorSITTINGS OF THE HOUSEHon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY (Deputy Leader of the House): I seek leave for the House to adjourn until the next sitting day.SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that? There is none.The House adjourned at 5.22 p.m.
Immigration (COVID-19 Response) Amendment Bill — First Reading
SpeechHon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY (Minister of Immigration): I move That the Immigration (COVID-19 Response) Amendment Bill be reported to the House by 12 May 2020. Motion agreed to.
Faafoi KrisHon KRIS FAAFOI (Minister of Broadcasting Communications and Digital Media): Thank you Mr Speaker. Just a quick contribution to reinforce some of the contributions that were made by the Minister of Immigration. To reflect on the two speeches that have already been made: these are not normal times so in order to manage a process which is obviously not running at full steam the Minister and the Government has seen fit to pass this legislation. To give us a scale of what the issue is here: as of the end of April this year there were approximately 350000 temporary visa holders here in New Zealand; just a little over 200000 have work visas whose visa employment conditions may need to be varied as we respond to the COVID crisis; nearly 75000 student visa holders whose conditions may need to be amended in able to change their course of work or extra hours until the education providers are reopened; and a little under 57000 on visitor visas whose expiry dates may need to be extended. So there is a scale that we have to deal with and also a need to do that at speed and to also be nimble. Pointing to the comments of the earlier member there are safeguards within this piece of legislation for the measures that have been put in place most notably the 12-month sunset clause within it and the necessary steps taken in some instances to get an Order in Council to use some of the powers that are made in obviously not a normal way. So it is needed because of scale and the need to be nimble. But to address the point that the member Stuart Smith made who was just previously on his feet: there are safeguards built into this to make sure that we are doing the right thing as well as being pragmatic in dealing with the response and recovery to COVID.
SpeechHon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY (Deputy Leader of the House) on behalf of the Leader of the House: I move That the COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Bill be reported to the House by 12 May 2020.Motion agreed to.
SpeechHon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY (Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety): Thank you Madam Speaker. I wish to speak very briefly on behalf of the Government in support of the COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Bill. This is an omnibus bill which contains provisions that have been worked on by Ministers across the Government who have alongside their officials been working day and night to identify the practical and pragmatic ways in which the Government can support the response and the recovery to and from the COVID-19 epidemic. I look forward to its consideration by the COVID Epidemic Response Committee. I look forward to their feedback from it and I commend this bill to the House.
Allan KiritapuKIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour): Thank you to my colleague Mr Seymour and I understand that look we're operating in relatively fluid and flexible times so I don't intend to take much time of this House this afternoon. This is unprecedented times. We are passing immeasurable amounts of legislation to ensure that we can protect New Zealanders and consistent with the comments from this side of the House we commend this bill to the House.
Andersen GinnyGINNY ANDERSEN (Labour): Thank you Madam Speaker. Thank you for the opportunity for speaking on this bill at this important time in New Zealand's history. This bill forms part of the Government's plan to get New Zealand moving once again. It provides support and certainty—certainty at a time when we need it. It amends 45 different pieces of legislation to allow businesses workers local government families and charities to adapt to the changed environment that we are now operating within to enable us to manage the immediate impacts of COVID-19 but also to mitigate those longer-term impacts. This Government took immediate action to cushion the economic blow by protecting jobs incomes and businesses and this bill forms part of the foundations now being laid to chart our course to recovery. So far we have already seen over 1.6 million New Zealanders supported through the wage subsidy; also the introduction of new tax and rent measures to support small and medium businesses; and we have worked with banks to help guarantee finance to businesses that need it. This bill enables us to adapt and it does it in five main areas. This bill includes changes to insolvency and corporate law to help businesses facing insolvency increase their prospects of remaining viable and to keep New Zealanders in jobs during the COVID-19 response. Secondly there are measures to support commercial tenants and landlords who are struggling to pay rent or to meet mortgage payments which I know from my own area in the Hutt is a real concern. Thirdly it changes the parental leave scheme to allow essential workers to return to work without being disadvantaged by losing entitlements to certain leave payments. It changes the local government area as already has been mentioned by looking at the by-election timing so that this continues to be a fair process. Finally changes will also be made in the charitable space to allow groups such as the Heart Foundation Coastguard and Countdown Kids Charitable Trust to process their fund-raising lotteries through email phone and electronic payments. These are important adaptations and changes to enable our country to continue working under such extraordinary circumstances.We have a hard road ahead of us in New Zealand and I would like to conclude today by simply acknowledging firstly those essential workers and their families that have gone above and beyond for New Zealand at a time when we have needed it more than ever before. I would like to acknowledge all of those businesses that are doing everything they possibly can to keep ticking over at a time that is incredibly difficult. I would like to acknowledge all those Government workers in the public sector who have done work so that we have bills like this to continue to pass legislation when we need to. And I would like to acknowledge all those people at home who are working alongside trying to school their children every day. I know it's not easy. It's a hard road ahead but I know that by working together across this House and getting agreement as we have today on this bill New Zealand can work together to make sure we recover from the shock which is COVID-19.
Points of Order — Remuneration Authority (Members of Parliament Remuneration) Amendment Bill—Leave to Introduce
Speaker's Observations — Seating Changes—Request to Move
Seymour David; Mallard TrevorREMUNERATION AUTHORITY (MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT REMUNERATION) AMENDMENT BILL (NO 3)Introduction—Leave DeclinedDAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT): I seek leave for a bill in my name the Remuneration Authority (Members of Parliament Remuneration) Amendment Bill (No 3) to be set down for first reading at a time chosen by the Leader of the House this week to stand referred to the Epidemic Response Committee for report back by 12 May 2020 and to pass through all remaining stages next week at a time determined by the Leader of the House.SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that? There is objection.
Mallard TrevorTUESDAY 5 MAY 2020The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.Karakia.SPEAKER'S RULINGSSeating—Request to MoveSPEAKER: Before we move on to questions I am going to make an unusual request of Mr Brown and Rt Hon David Carter to move one seat each to the left and thereby have the separation.Rt Hon David Carter: I don't like moving to the left.SPEAKER: I thought that might be a problem for the member but there's a first time for everything.
Thursday 30 April 2020 - Volume 745
11. Question No. 11—RevenueKIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour) to the Minister of RevenueQuestion No. 11—Revenue11. KIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour) to the Minister of Revenue: What recent tax measures if any has he announced to support businesses affected by COVID-19?Hon STUART NASH (Minister of Revenue): The last time I was in this House we announced—SPEAKER: Tidy your shirt up will you? Your collar. Thank you.Hon STUART NASH: —it's been five weeks since I've had to wear a tie Mr Speaker—a $2.8 billion business tax package to help cushion New Zealanders from the worst economic impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak. We restored depreciation deductions from commercial buildings increased the provisional tax threshold to relieve the compliance burden for small businesses and allowed the immediate write-off for low-value assets. These measures are now law. Since then we've also announced a $3.1 billion tax loss carry-back scheme and changed the rules to the loss continuity regime. That provides an estimated $60 million in annual savings to business. This package delivers the single biggest Government support package to businesses via the tax system in modern New Zealand history.Kiritapu Allan: How does the loss carry-back scheme help support businesses affected by COVID-19?Hon STUART NASH: The loss carry-back scheme means that businesses will get a refund from some of the tax paid in the previous year. The changes mean tax could start flowing to businesses via the tax system as early as next week. Tax refunds will be a cash lifeline for businesses with non-wage fixed costs like rent interest and insurance. Some don't want to take on extra debt with a bank loan. Without this support these otherwise viable small to medium enterprises may be forced to close. Many small and medium businesses are feeling the pain now. We are moving urgently to get tax into their hands as quickly as possible. As the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance have said we are constantly monitoring the situation for businesses and adjusting our support as required.Kiritapu Allan: What responses has he seen in reaction to the loss carry-back scheme?Hon STUART NASH: Overall this policy has been positively received. The loss carry-back scheme provides significant cash support to businesses [that] can be accessed relatively quickly." says John Cuthbertson of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. Kirk Hope Business New Zealand says the loss carry-back scheme "will be a significant help for many firms" with cash-flow problems. MYOB New Zealand country manager Ingrid Cronin-Knight said many smaller local businesses are staring down the barrel of a loss this year and the Government scheme could make a difference and—I quote—"the ability to offset a forecast loss in the current year against the previous year's tax will give them more options to reduce cost and free up cash."Hon Gerry Brownlee: But they have to trade unprofitably to get it.Hon STUART NASH: This is an unprecedented global event Mr Brownlee and will have a significant impact on our economy. We are pulling out all stops to protect the health of New Zealanders and the health of the economy"
9. Question No. 9—EducationNICOLA WILLIS (National) to the Minister of EducationQuestion No. 9—Education9. NICOLA WILLIS (National) to the Minister of Education: Will guidance be available for early learning services about how they will be expected to operate under COVID-19 alert level 2; if so when will that advice be available?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education): As I said yesterday guidance for the shift from alert level 3 to alert level 2 has already been published. This was consulted on with the sector before it was sent out. The Ministry of Education has continued to have regular meetings with individual providers as they normally would do—and representative bodies—and more detailed guidance will be disseminated around the middle of next week. Nicola Willis: Will parents be able to safely return their children to normal hours of early childhood education attendance at alert level 2?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: What I can speak to is the very high-level principles that were set out in the Government's alert level framework and people can find that on covid19.govt.nz. That envisages that schools and early learning services will be reopened more or less completely at alert level 2 with some exceptions. For those who are at high risk there will still be some provisions to support them to learn from home using distance learning and to support learning from home with school and early childhood staff. Further information of course is going to be released in due course.Nicola Willis: What guidelines is the Government considering to ensure early childhood services can operate safely with full attendance at alert level 2?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The Ministry of Education has been working very closely with the Ministry of Health—and regional public health officials in particular—alongside the sector leadership in early childhood education to ensure that both the guidelines are clear and that services have any additional support that they need in order to be able to operate at alert level 2. Nicola Willis: Does he think any early childhood education services will close as a result of COVID-19 - related enrolment and financial pressure?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: No I don't think it will be directly as a result of COVID-19 because the Government is continuing to provide the full subsidies for those services even where they only have one or two or even no children attending those early childhood services. Where their parent revenue—the fees charged to parents—makes up more than 30 percent of their income they have been eligible to apply for the wage subsidy and several of those services have already done so. So I don't think that that will be the reason for some services experiencing financial difficulty. I do want to acknowledge though that even before COVID-19 there were some small community-based early childhood services that had been experiencing financial difficulties and that the COVID-19 situation has simply brought that into even starker relief.
8. Question No. 8—HealthPAUL EAGLE (Labour—Rongotai) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 8—Health8. PAUL EAGLE (Labour—Rongotai) to the Minister of Health: How has New Zealand built up its contact tracing capacity?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): Traditionally all contact tracing in New Zealand has been done at a local level by public health units. These units are staffed by highly skilled professionals and they have done a good job. But in the face of COVID-19 it was clear that we needed to ramp up our contact tracing capacity. That led to the establishment of the National Close Contact Service on 24 March the first time contact tracing has been centralised and conducted at a national level. The national service has more than 200 trained staff and can make 5000 calls per day which can be scaled up to 10000 if required. And that is on top of the excellent ongoing work of our public health units.Paul Eagle: Has New Zealand now achieved the gold standard for contact tracing?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Contact tracing is one of the key public health measures we can take to keep COVID-19 at bay. The Government has invested a total of $70 million to strengthen and expand our contact tracing which is now operating on a dedicated information technology platform the National Contact Tracing Solution. The Director-General of Health has assured New Zealanders that our contact tracing is now gold standard.Paul Eagle: What is being done to ensure our contact tracing continues to be fit for purpose?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: As members will be aware Otago University's Dr Ayesha Verrall conducted a rapid audit of contact tracing. Work is under way to implement all of her recommendations. Yesterday appointments were also finalised for a section 11 committee to advise me on our progress. That committee will be chaired by Sir Brian Roche with members Dr Phillip Hill Warren Moitara Dr Marion Paw and Liz Reid. I want to thank Sir Brian and his team for agreeing to take on this important task.
7. Question No. 7—HealthDr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 7—Health7. Dr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei) to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by all his statements and actions around coronavirus screening at the border?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): In their full context yes noting that primary responsibility for border control sits with the Minister of Customs. Dr Shane Reti: Is the new passenger arrival card with coronavirus questions that he describes in written answers an important border screening tool and has it screened tens of thousands of arrivals? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I don't have the details of that particular customs tool in front of me but I can advise him that the Ministry of Health certainly had input into it and collection of that information has been important to our efforts. Dr Shane Reti: Why does the new passengers arrival card ask about fever cough and difficulty breathing when written questions show he was advised by the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) that fever cough and a sore throat are the main symptoms? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Obviously this is a very detailed question in respect of a broader primary question but what I can tell the member certainly—and I'd be happy if he wants to put specific questions down to provide further detail—is that the customs screening generally is interested not just in coronavirus. We are of course particularly interested in coronavirus right now but we are also interested in other infectious diseases that might present at the border and always have been as a country. Dr Shane Reti: Has New Zealand's new passenger arrivals card been asking the wrong symptoms screening question given he was advised in written questions from me No. 4971 that nearly half of the cases in New Zealand present with a sore throat? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: At every point we have taken decisions based on the best medical and scientific advice. I can assure the member that there is very thorough screening going on at the airport and conversations are being had to ensure that we are quarantining where appropriate and putting people into managed self-isolation. A very thorough regime is in place and I want to take this opportunity to thank all of those at the border who are involved in this effort. It is incredibly important to the success that we have had as a country in getting the reproduction rate of that virus right down. Dr Shane Reti: Will he commit to working with ESR to redo the passenger arrival card so that our borders can be better protected? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I will commit to the Ministry of Health continuing to work with experts to make sure that all of our systems are optimised. Of course this virus has presented a rapidly evolving situation and along the way we continue to learn more things about it and its presentation. So of course naturally there will be ongoing conversations.
4. Question No. 4—HealthHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 4—Health4. Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of Health: Does he agree with statements made by Professor Des Gorman to the Epidemic Response Committee yesterday and if not what comments from Professor Gorman does he disagree with?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): As the member will understand as I'm not a member of the committee I did not see Professor Gorman's submission. I have seen reports of what he said though—some of which I agree with such as his comment that there had been chronic under-investment in public health. I disagree with his view that we were spectacularly complacent". The Government and New Zealanders have taken this pandemic incredibly seriously. We have gone hard and early and we have collectively managed to stop community transfer of COVID-19 for now.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Would he agree with Professor Gorman regarding border closure that "we went early but soft."?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: No. New Zealand took early action at the border starting on 3 February with restrictions on travel from China. At every step we took into consideration the best available scientific and health advice. It simply would not have been possible to introduce quarantine for all New Zealanders returning to the country in mid-February; there are not enough hotel rooms in the whole country to handle the volume of people that were returning. Our approach has worked and I think the results speak for themselves.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Is Professor Gorman's assertion that the current alert level is due "to a lack of confidence in either community surveillance contact tracing or isolation capacity" correct and if so which one does he lack confidence in?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Could the member please repeat the question.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Is Professor Gorman's assertion that we are currently in level 3 because of "a lack of confidence in either community surveillance contact tracing or isolation capacity" correct and if so which one does he lack confidence in?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: No.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Does he agree with Professor Gorman that the three-day close-contact target should be 100 percent and not 80 percent?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I'm not quite sure that that is accurate. We are tracking our close contacts very successfully currently and I think Dr Verrall has made the right recommendations.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Does he agree that "we've been successful because of high compliance with social distancing" and not because of our contact tracing and if so does he think the Government's let the team of 5 million down by not doing its bit soon enough?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: In respect of the second part of the question no; in respect of the first part I do want to thank New Zealanders for their extraordinary efforts in the lockdown. We have successfully managed to squash community transmission for now and I think that extraordinary effort is thanks to the hard work of ordinary and everyday New Zealanders."
3. Question No. 3—FinanceHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 3—Finance3. Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of Finance: What lessons for the New Zealand economy if any has he taken from the Australian response to COVID-19?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): It is too early to draw definitive lessons from the economy from either New Zealand or Australia's response to COVID-19. What we can say is that both countries have done a good job of getting the virus under control which gives both countries the best possible chance for their economies to recover.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Does he accept that one of the key lessons from Australia's approach is that effective contact tracing allows more of the economy to safely open up more quickly thereby saving jobs.Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I think both sides of the Tasman would agree that contact tracing is a very important part of the response to COVID-19. It's certainly a significant one that we've been discussing in this House this week so it is an important part of the overall response.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Why is a contact tracing app taking so long to develop here?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The member if he has questions about the contact tracing app is better off directing those to the Minister of Health because the Ministry of Health has been responsible for that. We have made significant improvements and strides in our contact tracing over the last little while and that will continue but for detailed matters on that the member needs to ask the responsible Minister.SPEAKER: I probably should have ruled it out.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Does he agree with Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison's assessment that New Zealand has imposed more extreme economic measures"? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: What New Zealand has done is put in place a regime that is appropriate for our country and I am particularly proud of the response of New Zealanders in general in keeping this virus under control. I think we should focus on what we can do for our people here.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Could he just explain why we are so different to Australians?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Mr Speaker I don't quite know where to start that. Size would be one place—SPEAKER: It could be a thesis couldn't it really?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Size is one place to start. But also as the Prime Minister has just said the fact is that New Zealand has our own unique population of people with a unique set of circumstances in the way that we live and who we are and we have taken decisions that are appropriate for us. I would note that for example what New Zealand has done is front-loaded the fiscal stimulus and the fiscal response that we've done. So I think in the financial year that we're in now around 70 percent of New Zealand's response will be spent whereas in Australia it's around 33 percent. So we're making sure that actually we're getting money into the pockets of New Zealanders. The Australian JobKeeper programme has not put any money yet into the pockets of Australians; we have $10.6 billion in the pockets of New Zealanders."
Hipkins Chris; Mallard TrevorSITTINGS OF THE HOUSEHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): I seek leave for the House to now adjourn for the day.SPEAKER: Is there any objection? There is none. The House adjourned at 3.53 p.m.
COVID-19 Response (Taxation and Other Regulatory Urgent Measures) Bill — Third Reading
COVID-19 Response (Taxation and Other Regulatory Urgent Measures) Bill — Second Reading
Nash StuartSecond ReadingHon STUART NASH (Minister of Revenue): I move That the COVID-19 Response (Taxation and Other Regulatory Urgent Measures) Bill be now read a second time. Bill read a second time.
COVID-19 Response (Taxation and Other Regulatory Urgent Measures) Bill — First Reading
Nash StuartFirst Reading Hon STUART NASH (Minister of Revenue): I move That the COVID-19 Response (Taxation and Other Regulatory Urgent Measures) Bill be now read a first time. Bill read a first time.
COVID-19 Response (Taxation and Other Regulatory Urgent Measures) Bill — Introduction
Hipkins Chris; Mallard TrevorCOVID-19 RESPONSE (TAXATION AND OTHER REGULATORY URGENT MEASURES) BILLIntroductionHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): Following discussions across the House I seek leave for the introduction and the passing through all stages of the COVID-19 Response (Taxation and Other Regulatory Urgent Measures) Bill and that there be no debate on the first and second readings and no committee stage of this bill.SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that course of action being followed? And while we're considering the matter the Minister of Revenue will get that desk cleaned up. There appears to be no objection.
Standing Orders — Sessional
Hipkins Chris; Mallard TrevorSTANDING ORDERSSessionalHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): I seek leave to amend the sessional order adopted by the House on 25 March so that the cessation date specified in rule 3 is extended from 28 April 2020 to 4 June 2020. To explain the effect of this it continues the practice that we made in the last sitting block extending the deadlines for replies to written questions and responses to select committee reports. SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that course of action being followed? There is none.
Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Reform) Amendment Bill — Instruction to Environment Committee
Hipkins Chris; Mallard TrevorCLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE (EMISSIONS TRADING REFORM) AMENDMENT BILLInstruction to Environment CommitteeHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): I seek leave for the date by which the Environment Committee must finally report back to the House on the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Reform) Amendment Bill to be extended from 1 May 2020 to 4 May 2020.SPEAKER: Leave has been sought for that course of action. Is there any objection? There is none.
Hipkins Chris; Brownlee GerryTHURSDAY 30 APRIL 2020The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.Karakia.BUSINESS STATEMENTHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): Next week the House will continue to sit in a fashion that's consistent with the country being at COVID-19 alert level 3. The Government has undertaken not to advance most aspects of its normal legislative programme at this time. The House will consider legislation relating to COVID-19 including the COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Amendment Bill which will receive its first reading. There are likely to be other bills on immigration and remuneration. The annual review debate will continue examining portfolios including foreign affairs education and others to be agreed between the parties.Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam): Thank you for the outline of the business under our different arrangements next week. Look is there a chance that those bills would be available to the Opposition a little sooner than the bills that we're dealing with this afternoon which have only become available this morning? We are using processes that now allow the law to reflect the support that's required for New Zealanders relating to this but I think it would be valuable and part of good order if we could see those bills a little sooner than was the case today.Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): The biggest constraint that we have is just the speed of drafting of the legislation but as we did with the bill today whilst I was unable to get the bill to the Opposition earlier I was able to get them a summary and I'm certainly happy to provide the Opposition hopefully this afternoon with a summary of the likely content of those bills even if I can't give them the exact bills.
Wednesday 29 April 2020 - Volume 745