edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
10. Job Creation and Unemployment—Employment Strategy and Youth EmploymentHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of EmploymentJob Creation and Unemployment—Employment Strategy and Youth Employment10. Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of Employment: Does he still stand by all of his statements; if so how?Hon WILLIE JACKSON (Minister of Employment): Yes within the context in which they've been made. In terms of the second part how I do that is by coming to the House every week and listening to the same question every week from that member. [Interruption]SPEAKER: Order!Hon Paul Goldsmith: Does he stand by his statement in correction to the House on Thursday that the employment strategy he is rolling out is the He Poutama Rangatahi initiative to address youth employment?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: The member needs to read the Hansard. I came into the House last Thursday and mentioned the roll-out of the employment strategy and I further clarified this and referred to the roll-out of He Poutama Rangatahi which is part of a broader strategy to address youth employment.Hon Paul Goldsmith: So when he wrote last week that he would be coming up with an employment strategy for all New Zealanders" did he mean he would reach into the drawer and pull out the previous Government's initiative to help the roughly 5000 young people in four regions most in need of assistance?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: No.Hon Paul Goldsmith: What are the core elements of He Poutama Rangatahi?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: He Poutama Rangatahi is about going into the regions and trying to get all our different groups together. We want to get employers together we want to get trusts together and we want to get people together and iwi because the regions have been ignored by the previous National Government who talked about resourcing the regions and never gave one cent. So it's about supporting people who were forgotten by the previous National Government.Hon Paul Goldsmith: How if at all has he changed He Poutama Rangatahi from what he inherited?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: We've changed He Poutama Rangatahi because we've decided to pull the communities together and the previous Government forgot about these communities—totally forgot about them. They talked about resourcing them and did nothing. We're going to bring employers iwi we're going to bring our "neets"—our young people—together something this previous Government never did. It just talked about it and did nothing. This is our strategy not the previous Government's strategy and we're proud of it.Hon Paul Goldsmith: I'm not sure I've got an answer to that. When will he develop and release his employment strategy for the rest of New Zealand?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: Our employment strategy is for all of New Zealand and we're working on that right now and we'll be getting groups together and bringing a focus group together—a reference group with key people in the different areas: in the forestry area in the employment area in the regions Māori Pākehā Pacific Island people disabled people women—all the groups that that member and the previous Government forgot about.SPEAKER: Question No. 11.Hon Member: Supplementary?SPEAKER: No it's too late."
9. Health Services—Elective Surgeries and Rural Health ServicesHon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (National—Northcote) to the Minister of HealthHealth Services—Elective Surgeries and Rural Health Services9. Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (National—Northcote) to the Minister of Health: What are his priorities in the health portfolio?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): Better health for New Zealanders.Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman: What specific instructions if any has he given as Minister of Health to improve rural health services?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: There are measures in the Budget that may concern that that I am not at liberty to discuss currently.Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman: What specific instructions if any has he given to officials to deliver a third medical school specialising in rural medicine?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I don't think it's in the public interest to give further information on that matter.Dr Shane Reti: What specific steps is he taking to fill the ongoing permanent GP vacancy in rural Pātea as he promised to do on the campaign trail and will he feel comfortable returning to Pātea to explain to locals why he hasn't solved their problem in the manner he promised?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: This Government has promised to increase the number of GP training places and it will honour that promise.Dr Shane Reti: Following that reply where will the 300 extra training practices come from to accommodate all the extra GP trainees he is promising?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I've had many conversations with the leadership in the sector. They worked with us in fact when we were in Opposition because they were so disappointed with that Government's lack of progress on increasing the number of GP training places. Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman: What specific instructions has he given to Ministry of Health officials on setting new targets to increase access to elective surgery decrease emergency department waiting times and increase access to cancer treatment—what specific instructions?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I'll speak to the first of those. I've been very clear with my officials that we do not want to have an electives target like the previous Government had that included increases in Avastin numbers and skin lesion removals previously done in primary care because we want a transparent regime where New Zealanders actually get increased access to surgery and not just pumped up numbers.Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I asked what specific instructions.SPEAKER: I think you got in respect of one of the issues quite a specific answer.Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman: Not a very good one. What specific instructions has he given to district health boards and what specific plans has he asked them to implement since he became Minister of Health or are they just doing exactly what they were doing before the general election?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I have written letters to DHBs requesting that they live within the existing annual plan arrangements. I have spoken with DHB chairs to indicate that I expect them to live within financial parameters. I have done those things which involve a relationship with the sector in stark contrast to my predecessor.
4. Education Minister—Meetings with Charter SchoolsHon NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) to the Minister of EducationEducation Minister—Meetings with Charter Schools4. Hon NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) to the Minister of Education: What specific advice if any has he received from officials that advises him to not visit partnership schools?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education): I discussed the issues with Ministry of Education officials last year when we were planning the process of ending charter schools and removing it from legislation whilst transitioning those individual schools. We agreed that the contract negotiations would be handled by the Ministry of Education and I made the decision not to visit charter schools while that process was taking place. I've been largely successful in doing that with one exception. I'm not however ruling out visiting them in the future.Hon Nikki Kaye: Has the Hon Kelvin Davis Willie Jackson or Peeni Henare been involved in any partnership schools discussions with him?SPEAKER: Order! There's a requirement for a question to flow from the primary question. The primary question was very specific and that was advice to him—to the Minister on him visiting partnership schools. That doesn't involve any other Minister. I will let the member have another crack at getting it within order.Hon Nikki Kaye: In light of his answer regarding visits with partnership schools can he confirm that he did have a meeting with a partnership school at Waitangi and who organised that meeting?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Yes I did and I've been very open about the fact that I had a discussion with sponsors from He Puna Mārama Trust who run two partnership schools. I had that discussion whilst at Waitangi. I was asked by them whether I would meet with them. I thought in the circumstances given it was a large public event at which they were going to be present it would've been awkward not to have a discussion with them.Hon Nikki Kaye: Did the Hon Kelvin Davis organise that meeting?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: No.Hon Nikki Kaye: Why is he engaging in preferential treatment accepting meetings arranged by other Cabinet Ministers while telling everyone else he won't meet with other schools? Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: To be clear when I met with them I made it clear the Ministry of Education would be conducting the negotiations with them. I have had discussions with other existing charter schools in the past including the Villa Education Trust including the Rise UP Trust including those who are running Vanguard Military School. I haven't had the opportunity to have any form of discussion with this particular organisation in the past. I didn't see any harm in doing so but I have made it very clear that the negotiations regarding the transition process for these schools will be conducted by Ministry of Education and not by Ministers.
3. Housing—Brightline Test and KiwiBuildHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of FinanceHousing—Brightline Test and KiwiBuild3. Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of Finance: Does he have confidence in the policy advice he receives?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Acting Minister of Finance): I do have confidence in the advice provided by officials. However it will not surprise the member that I do not necessarily always agree with that advice.Hon Michael Woodhouse: According to that advice and based on the projections of KiwiBuild dwellings progressed what proportion of the earmarked $2 billion KiwiBuild capital fund will be drawn down between now and the end of the 2018-19 fiscal year?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: These are decisions that are currently being considered in the Budget process and I refer the member to Treasury's comments on this subject in the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update?Hon Michael Woodhouse: Is the advice on the fiscal impact of KiwiBuild that he will need significantly more than the $2 billion to fund the up to 12 to 15 Hobsonville-sized developments his Government aspires to or that he won't even need the $2 billion earmarked because KiwiBuild is taking so long to get off the ground?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I do refer the member again to Treasury's comments on this subject in the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update and I offer to table that if the member hasn't read it.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Has he had advice from the Reserve Bank that the prudential risks to banks from residential development is decreasing and is that because the Reserve Bank actually expects housebuilding to slow in the next couple of years?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I will answer on behalf of the Minister of Finance for those areas that he has responsibility for. We are painfully aware of the constraints on ramping up housebuilding because we inherited them. The difference is that this Government has the policies and the will to deal with all of these challenges.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Has he seen the Treasury advice regarding the five-year brightline test for residential housing stating Treasury is not confident that the Government's objectives are being met in the best way and with the least unintended consequences." and does he agree with it?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: The irony of that member raising it—because it's the same advice that was provided to that party opposite when they introduced the two-year brightline test.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Has he received any advice that would enable the Government to turn around the nine years of nothing in 90 days?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I believe that challenge would be too great. This Government has ambitious plans—SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! It was a simple question: whether he'd received advice. That's it.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Who is supporting the five-year brightline test given that IRD recommended against it Treasury don't support it no one in the industry has been asked for their opinion and Labour tried everything they could to avoid talking about new taxes during the election campaign?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: The National Government introduced the brightline test in the first place."
2. Cost of Living—Inflation Relative RatesKIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour) to the Minister of FinanceCost of Living—Inflation Relative Rates2. KIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour) to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he seen on the costs of living?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Acting Minister of Finance): On Thursday Statistics New Zealand released the latest—SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! Order! Is this an on behalf—Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: On behalf of the Minister of Finance Mr Speaker—my apologies to the House. On Thursday Statistics New Zealand released the latest household living-costs price index for the December 2017 quarter. It highlights how low-spending and low-income households faced higher inflation for goods and services they typically purchase than that faced by higher-income and spending households. The figures showed that households with the least spending power in New Zealand faced inflation of 2.4 percent in the year to December compared to 1.3 percent inflation for households with the greatest spending power. Beneficiary households also faced a cost of living rise of 2.4 percent while superannuitants faced a 2.1 percent rise both above the general rate of Consumers Price Index inflation.Kiritapu Allan: What were the main cost drivers for these groups of households?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: On behalf of the Minister of Finance Statistics New Zealand said price increases over the year for petrol rent and insurance contributed to higher inflation for low-spending households while inflation for big spenders was kept lower due to falling prices of luxury items like new cars. For beneficiaries higher rents over the year had the greatest impact while superannuitants experienced the greatest impact from increasing prices for insurance and local authority rates.Kiritapu Allan: How will the Government's policies help control these cost of living increases?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: On behalf of the Minister of Finance the Government's targeted Families Package will mean 384000 low and middle income families will benefit by an average of $75 a week when fully rolled out. This includes rising accommodation supplement payments to help deal with rent and mortgage payments and a winter energy payment for superannuitants and those on a main benefit. Meanwhile our plans to boost the building of affordable homes and State homes will help put a lid on housing cost pressures faced by low and middle income households. We have also committed to raising the minimum wage to $20 an hour in 2021 and policy work is being done on reducing the cost of primary healthcare. This Government is making targeted investments to help those who need support the most in the face of greater cost pressures for households on low and middle incomes rather than those on the highest incomes.SPEAKER: Before I call the Hon Michael Woodhouse I'll just do the quick lesson that On behalf of" only has to be said the first time. After that the Minister is still answering on behalf of but doesn't need to tell us every time."
Wall Louisa; Mallard TrevorLOUISA WALL (Labour—Manurewa): Mr Speaker thank you very much and thank you very much to colleagues who have participated in tonight's debate. I just want to speak directly to Chris Bishop. It must take into consideration local alcohol policies but it may refuse to renew a licence". The reason I framed it that way is that currently all licences are renewed with conditions only. What this bill will do is allow a district licensing committee not to renew a licence with inputs from the community from the police and from the medical officer of health. Actually in some instances the public may support the application for a renewal because they've got a great business owner in their community.What's the context of this for me? One hundred and fifty-six off-licence premises in South Auckland. And actually Simeon Brown does know about this because when he was the chair of the Manurewa Youth Council we had a huge outpouring of submissions from our community to create a local alcohol policy that started to reduce the number of outlets we had in South Auckland.I just want to thank the Clerk's office—particularly David Wilson Tim Workman and the team. You've assisted greatly. I obviously commend the bill to the House and look forward to the vote. Kia ora.SPEAKER: Members I have determined that the subject of this vote will be treated as a conscience issue and if members want a personal vote I am prepared to accept one. This is the process we're going to follow: I'm going to put the question I'm going to announce a result and at any stage any member can ask for a personal vote. I will say however that I have listened very carefully to the debate and notwithstanding advice I have received previously the debate has appeared to be upon party lines. So it will be for members to decide whether in the end a personal vote is called for.A personal vote was called for on the question that the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Renewal of Licences) Amendment Bill (No 2) be now read a first time and that Supplementary Order Paper 14 be referred to a select committee."
Swarbrick ChlöeCHLÖE SWARBRICK (Green): E Te Māngai tēnā koe. Tēnā koutou e Te Whare. I'll just give a few brief comments on this bill. When it initially came up on the Order Paper and I was doing my research I initially thought that it was a bit of an anomaly in the law as Greg O'Connor my colleague has just mentioned. However it is actually not an unintended consequence with regard to this legislation—this anomaly that we currently see in the law with regard to the ability for local communities to create their own local alcohol policy yet their local alcohol policies not being taken into account with the renewal of licences. It's actually intentional.It is intentional in section 133 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 which reads and I quote—and I'll note that Dr Liz Craig previously touched on this: (1) In considering whether to renew a licence the licensing authority or licensing committee concerned must not take into account any inconsistency between a relevant alcohol policy and—(a) the renewal of a licence; or (b) the consequences of its renewal." It seems a little bit like giving with one hand and taking with the other—purporting to be talking about local democracy but actually not really following through with it.For those who are talking about prohibition I think you've kind of overcooked it. What we're talking about here is communities having autonomy. This is not about prohibition; this is about communities being able to decide where these places with liquor licences actually are. There are thousands of people who have submitted and consulted with their councils and local authorities around local alcohol policies and I think that if we are genuinely as a House of Representatives taking that seriously taking the voices of constituents seriously taking communities seriously and taking the autonomy of communities seriously as so many of us in this place purport to do then let's hear from New Zealanders at select committee. I'm stoked to be supporting this bill through its first reading."
Mallard TrevorSPEAKER: Before I take Aupito William Sio I just want to make very clear my concern to the Government whips the Labour whips that I have received a communication from them as to who wishes to take the call and their views on the call. Now I think only one member from that list attempted to take the call and that member has expressed a view differing from the list that I have received. I just want to make it very clear that in a conscience vote it is my expectation that communications that I receive should be relied on and if there is a change of view that I should be informed.
Andersen VirginiaVIRGINIA ANDERSEN (Labour): Thank you Mr Speaker. First of all I'd like to acknowledge the work that Louisa Wall has done in terms of looking at this bill the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Renewal of Licences) Amendment Bill (No 2).This is a bill essentially about communities and about communities having the autonomy and the authority to make the decisions that directly affect their own people. I'll be speaking in favour of this bill. I think that part of the need for this is that we need to respect that each of the communities and the various parts where we live are different and there are different issues with alcohol consumption depending on where we come from. In some places in New Zealand it is far less of a problem but in some other places it's a far greater problem.I would like to talk about a problem that happens where I live where there has been a massive problem in terms of an increase of licensed liquor stores that have opened. In Wainuiōmata where there's approximately 17000 people we've got seven bottle stores seven outlet stores. In the past there was a new liquor licence that was put up and the community rallied around and were very strong in their view that they did not want another liquor store in their area. The place where this new liquor store was proposed was right beside a playground a church a chemist and a doctor. There was another bottle store on the other side of the playground and in that area there were ongoing issues with tagging and broken bottles.In the submissions received we heard from families in that area that they were tired of the damage that was being done to their youth their mums and their dads from alcohol. They were tired of the broken bottles on the street and the damage that they saw being done to the community. But most of all there were submissions that they were tired of the violence that was a direct result of more alcohol stores being opened.Through the second process of the recent local alcohol policy review again a strong view came out and success was had by capping the number of alcohol outlets in Wainuiōmata. So that's why I believe—and why I'm supporting this to the select committee—that people should also have the opportunity to say no. to the existing licences if there are too many and if they don't want them. If that community asks they have that right and I don't see why they should not have that right. That's why at the select committee if there are issues in terms of how this impacts on other communities different to where I come from let's hear about those and let's nut out those details if there are implications to business.But first and foremost we need to remember the damage that alcohol does to some communities within New Zealand. We need to take every opportunity possible to give those communities the power and the autonomy to stand up and look after their own if they're prepared to do so. So I would like to say that I commend this bill to the House. Thank you.
Falloon AndrewANDREW FALLOON (National—Rangitata): Thank you Mr Speaker. I'm pleased to be taking a call on the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Renewal of Licences) Amendment Bill (No 2) and I want to acknowledge Louisa Wall the sponsor of the bill for bringing it to the House. I will however be joining my colleagues in the National Party in opposing the bill. We oppose it not because alcohol isn't a problem but because we don't see the need for this particular bill. Licence renewals are already publicly notified and as we see regularly they are challenged by people in the community by health professionals and by local police. In its explanatory note the bill talks about concerns about the proximity of liquor outlets to schools and that interested me because actually young people don't see problems with alcohol in the way that we did when I was at high school and perhaps when members opposite were at high school—certainly in comparison to what it was like a few years ago. The number of young hazardous drinkers is actually declining. For those aged 15 to 24 the proportion of young hazardous drinkers has dropped from 35 percent in 2006 to 26 percent in 2016 so some of the rhetoric that we're hearing in this House actually needs a reality check. Young people just don't see this as the greatest problem facing their generation. Last year the YMCA put out some statistics that showed that alcohol was nowhere near the top of the list when it came to young people's health concerns. I want to end by saying that all decisions we make in this House to target those that are harming themselves or others also impact the rest of society. We have to be very careful not to unfairly punish the vast majority of responsible drinkers in this country who use alcohol in moderation and without harming themselves. Thank you.
Smith StuartSTUART SMITH (National—Kaikōura): Thank you Mr Speaker—second time lucky. Well I'm actually quite heartened by hearing New Zealand First say that they have reservations on this bill because I have severe reservations on the bill. I think that this bill as it stands will have a significant impact on existing businesses due to the way that this bill is written at the moment. So for an existing business that has had a different kind of business like a school or a childcare centre or whatever come in next door—which has come to the nuisance as it were—it could cut right across their rights. That makes it very difficult for those businesses facing that sort of situation to be backed by their bank for example and I think that's quite significant. Now I think it's very easy while we're supping on a chardonnay—and I'm very partial to a chardonnay—to wring our hands about the consumption of alcohol and the harm that it does to people. There is no doubt alcohol does harm but if we look at the statistics particularly amongst the young alcohol harm is declining. It's declining. We've listened to the speeches around here and we think it's actually going up but that's not the case so I think we've got to be careful. Every time we try to control alcohol with laws we have the opposite effect. The 6 o'clock swill was a result of the change of the law. Prohibition in the United States increased the number of alcohol outlets during that period. They didn't go down; they went up. They were illegal but they were there. The amount of area planted in grapes for wine production in the United States during Prohibition actually increased. It didn't go down. So I oppose this bill. I think it's well-intentioned but misguided. Thank you.
Falloon AndrewANDREW FALLOON (National—Rangitata): Thank you Madam Assistant Speaker. It's a pleasure to be taking a brief call this afternoon on the KiwiFund Bill. I want to start by actually echoing some of the comments from across the House and to congratulate Dr Michael Cullen because I think KiwiSaver was and is a good idea. It's given many people out there an opportunity to save who otherwise probably wouldn't have the opportunity and in my own personal circumstance it allowed me to buy my first home with my wife. Hon Member: Good idea Andrew.ANDREW FALLOON: It was a good idea—it is a good idea. It was a substantial contribution to New Zealand savings. It is everything this bill is not.So this KiwiFund Bill it is disappointing because all it does is set up a working group. I've spoken in this House before—several times actually I think now—on the number of committees and reviews that this Government seems to have a habit of setting up. What they do is when they don't have an idea about what they're going to do next decide to kick it down the road by setting up a review or a committee. We've seen it a lot recently. As my colleague mentioned earlier the dairy industry there's a review on that; they're setting up a review on tax; there's a review on climate change; and of course just today they've established a review on education to try and deflect attention from their disgraceful decision to close charter schools.Hon Carmel Sepuloni: You started so well.ANDREW FALLOON: I did. It's continuing on trust me. If this bill passes it's going to take hours to pass through this Parliament and pass through this House. It's going to waste hours of House time and many many more hours of select committee time. It's an absolute waste of time. We don't need legislation to start a review. As my colleagues on this side of the House have all been saying all afternoon the Government could go off and decide to set up a review tomorrow or a committee tomorrow.Brett Hudson: Why don't we have a review of the reviews?ANDREW FALLOON: My colleague Brett Hudson has just I think put forward a very worthy suggestion of setting up a committee to look at all of the reviews and the committees that the Government's set up.It is a waste of time. The Government would be far better off picking up I think a very worthy contribution from my colleague Michael Woodhouse who has drafted a bill to establish additional contribution rates for KiwiSaver. That is a far more substantial contribution than this bill. I invite the Government to pick that up and to not waste this Parliament's time.
Swarbrick ChlöeLOCAL GOVERNMENT (FREEDOM OF ACCESS) AMENDMENT BILLFirst ReadingDebate resumed from 31 January.CHLÖE SWARBRICK (Green): I stand to finish my contribution to the ironically titled Local Government (Freedom of Access) Amendment Bill. I've only got about two minutes left as you note to articulate the rationale behind the Green Party's opposition to this bill. My contribution today to this debate builds on that which I spoke of on the evening of our last members' day across the sands of time on the evening of 31 January. This House rose in the middle of the point I was making about my own member's bill that had been voted down previously that day. My point related to Parliament's fallibility. I was speaking to the fact that while 78 percent of New Zealanders were in support of growing and/or using cannabis for any medical reasons such as to alleviate pain only 39 percent of this Parliament in a conscience vote voted for that.This is an example of the divergence of the views of our public and our Parliament. That is valid and it is fine and arguably also to a certain extent healthy. However it is only healthy so long as the public can express their difference of opinion with this House and seek to push us as their representatives to update our views.Historically an incredibly effective way of voicing this difference of opinion of mobilising for change and of generating public discussion is through protest which brings me back to this bill. This bill fundamentally systematically reduces the power of the public. It reduces citizens' ability to collectivise to congregate and to make their voices heard.I want to make it abundantly clear that this proposed piece of legislation will also have a disproportionate effect on Māori protest of which we have a rich history. In 1977 Ōrākei Māori Action Committee occupied Bastion Point for 506 days more than 200 protesters ended up being arrested and 10 years later the Waitangi Tribunal supported Māori claim to the land and the Government supported it.Barbara Kuriger: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Just checking the time.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe): It's not working. The member has 24 seconds remaining.CHLÖE SWARBRICK: None of this is to neglect the rest of Aotearoa's illustrious history of protest political pressure and eventual progress. The suffrage movement women's fight for the right to vote; the Springbok Tour; homosexual law reform; the Vietnam War—this country as we know it was built on protest. The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand fundamentally opposes this bill.
Brownlee Gerry; Mallard TrevorHon GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam): Mr Speaker before you respond can I just say that I think that that would be a matter outside of the Speaker's ability to rule simply because members should always be free as they are elected freely—whether they are constituent members or list members they are equally elected into this House freely and unencumbered—and should be able to seek the leave of their colleagues at any time for any matter that they think the House should consider. While it might be useful to have a discussion at the Business Committee and we would be participants in that I think I'd be reluctant to see a hard and fast ruling that starts to contain the rights of members in this House. I think we've had too many hints of that happening even in this week. SPEAKER: Well I was just about to agree with the member. Can I suggest that there is a pretty easy compromise that sits here and that is that we do put on the Business Committee agenda an item whereby members can put things forward. My expectation would be that members who have foreseeable events would do that. I won't stop putting the leave for matters going forward to the House because it is the right of members to seek leave but it is my expectation that the House would be less likely to approve leave for those matters whereby notice had not been given by the Business Committee. Does that sound all right?Hon Gerry Brownlee: We'll have the discussion first. SPEAKER: Thank you.
Points of Order — Motions without Notice—Process
Hipkins ChrisPOINTS OF ORDERMotions Without Notice—ProcessHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. There has been some discussion for some time around motions in the House without notice—and the member consulted with all parties and we agreed to the notice about the motion just passed and we supported it. However I do wonder whether you would give some consideration to a more streamlined process for considering these in light of the fact that they do seem to continue to recur. I wonder whether you might consider a ruling that foreseeable events should be the subject of a Business Committee decision as to which are put to the House for a motion and which are not and only unforeseeable events or very recent events should be the subject of a motion with leave. I think it's important that we consider the fact that there are a range of these issues that come up from time to time and we actually need to be fair to groups around which ones get the attention of the House and which ones do not and the only way to do that sensibly is to consider them altogether.
Motions — Jewish Community Wellington—175th Anniversary
Lee MelissaMOTIONSJewish Community Wellington—175th AnniversaryMELISSA LEE (National): I seek leave to move a motion without notice or debate to acknowledge the 175th anniversary celebrations of the New Zealand Jewish community in Wellington.SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that procedure? There appears to be none.MELISSA LEE: I move That the House acknowledge and congratulate the Jewish community of Wellington on their 175 years in New Zealand and acknowledge the indelible mark that they have made on the culture and spirit of our nation.Motion agreed to.
Mahuta NanaiaHon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister for Māori Development) on behalf of the Minister of Civil Defence: I assure the House that the Government will continue to monitor the situation as it develops and transitions into the recovery stage. Events like this can be distressing and place significant strain on families and communities. I once again commend the actions that have been taken by individuals local authorities volunteers emergency services and civil defence emergency management groups to prepare for and manage the consequences of this severe weather event.Finally I too want to thank on behalf of the Government the volunteers and communities of people who support each other in a time of need such as this. Their resilience is our encouragement.
Ministerial Statements — Ex-tropical Cyclone Gita—Impacts
Shaw JamesHon JAMES SHAW (Leader—Green): Tēnā koe Mr Speaker. Tēnā koutou e Te Whare. On behalf of the Green Party let me just add my support to what the Hon Nanaia Mahuta and MP Stuart Smith have said just now. To those people in Golden Bay Nelson Kaikōura the West Coast Christchurch Taranaki and other parts of the country who have borne the full force of Cyclone Gita we send our condolences and we hope for a swift recovery. To those who've been evacuated from their homes we hope that you can return soon. And to the people of the emergency services civil defence and the Defence Force we send our thanks and gratitude. As a country we rely on your professionalism expertise and experience to pull us through the most trying of times and once again you've carried out your duties admirably. So thank you for that.Thanks too to the ordinary people who checked on their neighbours and helped out in their communities. It is at times of emergency when we support our neighbours that the strength of our communities and our ability to look out for one another are most clear. The only thing that can counter the strength of a storm like this is the strength of our people and our communities. The clean-up for weather events like this can take some time far too long after the wind- and rainswept journalists have left town and requires communities and local and central government to work together. For that reason I am very pleased that the Hon Kris Faafoi our civil defence Minister is travelling south today to inspect the damage and to offer this Government's assistance to mayors and officials from affected regions. I would also like to thank the media for helping to keep the public informed during what was a frightening time particularly those reporters camera people and photographers who had to file their stories outside braving the elements. It has been a summer of exceptional weather and I'm informed by MetService scientists that there is now a clear scientific link between extreme weather events like this and climate change. As we face this changing climate together as a country the spirit of community and care for one another that we see when disaster strikes will become all the more important. In closing I'd like to specifically acknowledge the people living in an area where a state of emergency has been declared: Christchurch Buller District Grey District Selwyn Westland Tasman and Taranaki. Our thoughts are with you today.
Smith StuartSTUART SMITH (National—Kaikōura): Thank you Mr Speaker. As the National Party spokesperson for civil defence I've watched closely as New Zealand has prepared for the coming of ex - Cyclone Gita over the past few days. It has been encouraging to see councils and Government working together in order to support their communities and facilitate aid where necessary. I would like to acknowledge councils and mayors who were proactive in declaring a state of emergency. However I am sure that some will reflect on that decision-making process over the next few months and the wisdom of that declaration. I think once again it has become apparent how important it is for all New Zealanders to have a plan in case of emergency and to review those plans on an ongoing basis. There are those who say that the potential of ex - Cyclone Gita was overstated. However those who've had their properties damaged would not agree. For our own safety we need to take note of the warnings from the professionals who have access to the most current information. I would like to thank the emergency services who are for the main part volunteers who have left their families and properties to protect others. While this storm is still active over the lower South Island for many of the affected areas the worst has passed and the clean-up is just getting under way. I hope we can continue to support our communities with their recovery efforts. All our thoughts are with those who have been affected by this event.
Food Safety Law Reform Bill — Third Reading
Hipkins ChrisFOOD SAFETY LAW REFORM BILLThird ReadingHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House) on behalf of the Minister for Food Safety: I move That the Food Safety Law Reform Bill be now read a third time.I'm very pleased to be able to speak on this bill on behalf of my colleague the Hon Damien O'Connor which makes a range of improvements to the legislation that underpins our food safety system. This is an omnibus bill that amends the Food Act the Animal Products Act and the Wine Act to address the remaining issues raised by a recent inquiry. The House will recall my support—my support?—the Minister's support—Debate interrupted.The House adjourned at 10 p.m.
Hipkins Chris; Williams PotoSITTINGS OF THE HOUSEHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): I think the House has made very good progress and rather than start the remaining bill that we had down for this evening with one minute to go before the bell at 10 o'clock I seek leave for the House to rise early for the evening.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams): Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There is objection.
Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Amendment Bill — First Reading
McKelvie IanIAN McKELVIE (National—Rangitīkei): Thank you Madam Assistant Speaker. It won't take a lot of time for me to support this bill. If you took the nine minutes of window dressing off the last speech basically I agree with a lot of what Angie Warren-Clark said.As one of those whose association with the health system becomes more frequent by the year I'm very much in support of this bill. I trust my health professional I believe in what they say and I hope what they tell me is right. If it's not right then I'm in trouble.So I think the premise of this bill's pretty good and as a consequence of that I support it as it goes through the House. I think that we all need safeguards and for those of us who rely on the health system even though we think we don't it's critically important that it's right. So thank you Madam Assistant Speaker. I commend this bill to the House.
Macindoe TimHon TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West): Kia orana Madam Assistant Speaker. Please indulge me for 15 seconds first to congratulate you on your superb performance in the Coast to Coast recently and also to congratulate Julie Anne Genter and her partner on the wonderful news that they shared with the nation at the weekend. I have to say I was really excited. Despite whatever else I may have done in my career I still think that being a parent is the most exciting and the most important job and I wish them all the very best.For the reasons that have been articulated by my National Party colleagues I have great pleasure in supporting this bill.
Wagner Nicky; Williams PotoHon NICKY WAGNER (National): Thank you very much Madam Assistant Speaker. This bill it focuses on ensuring public confidence and trust in our health professionals. It's designed to protect the health and safety of New Zealanders by providing a mechanism to make sure that our health professionals are competent and that they are fit to practise their professions. As has already been mentioned it implements practical recommendations from two reviews over the original 2003 Act. It's a mostly technical and procedural bill and it really tidies up about 14 different provisions.National is very happy to support this bill because it is another example of the coalition Government bringing our legislation into law. The bill provides for a number of operational efficiencies but I think its real strength is about engaging and ensuring and encouraging new ways for health practitioners to work. It requires an authority to promote and facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and cooperation in the delivering of health services and it wants health professionals to work collaboratively to assist with workplace planning and development. So overall it supports a more sustainable integrated more convenient and patient-centred health system and we support this bill. Thank you.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams): I call Angie Warren-Clark. I understand this is a split call. You have five minutes.
Reti ShaneDr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei): Thank you Madam Assistant Speaker. It's a pleasure to offer a few comments on this bill the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Amendment Bill. As I look around the House there's probably a few practitioners who will be directly applicable to this bill myself included and I think we have that unified voice to progress this legislation along.The legislation primarily reviews the strategic review from 2012. In 2003 the Act came in. There was a review in 2009 and then in 2012. Fundamentally there were five recommendations coming from that review as is shown in the regulatory impact statement. The first recommendation was a five-yearly performance review of the authorities. The second recommendation was for the responsible authorities to make their findings public. The third was for the responsible authorities to set standards of skills. The fourth was to include a statement in the Act aligned to the purpose which is around transparency and really fundamentally the fifth recommendation was to require collection of workforce data.Now that was the 2012 review. The regulatory impact statement (RIS) came out in November 2015. From then till a few weeks ago when the departmental disclosure statement came out there have been three additions to that which I just want to touch on. First of all what has been added since the RIS came out is (1) a defence of without reasonable excuse" has been incorporated into new section 92A in clause 16 and section 95 in clause 19; (2) the bill now includes a penalty in new section 92A; (3) the proposed amendment to the Act to have regard to the importance of principles and transparency; and the fourth recommendation has actually been incorporated in other legislation.So I really just wanted to highlight very briefly the main recommendations coming out of the review as per the regulatory impact statement and the new ones that have been added since then in the departmental disclosure statement. We're looking forward to this bill going to select committee. Thank you."