edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
Points of Order — Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill—Letter to the Speaker 
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Points of Order — Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill—Letter to the Speaker 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:8038. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Points of Order 
Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill—Letter to the Speaker 
Dr RUSSEL NORMAN (Co-Leader—Green) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I waited until the end of question time before raising this matter. As you may know I have written to you regarding the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill. I wonder whether you could give an indication as to when you may be able to respond regarding the order of including the private matter within that bill. I wonder whether you have had a chance to look at it. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member has written to me about this matter. The member is perfectly at liberty to come and see me about it but it is not a matter for the order of the House.
Wagner Nicky: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
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Wagner Nicky: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7966. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
NICKY WAGNER (National) 
: 
 This Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill leads the world in covering all sectors and all gases and New Zealand will be the first country internationally to include agriculture in its emissions trading scheme. This bill will ensure that New Zealand will do its fair share in the global fight against climate change. The Government has amended Labour’s climate change legislation to make it a more workable a more affordable and a more practical emissions trading scheme. 
Right now the Government does not want to add a bill for an extra $400 million on to the people of New Zealand. Our fragile economy cannot afford these extra costs; we are only just beginning to turn round our economy and only just beginning to see a drop in the rate of unemployment. We want to continue this trend. We want to make sure that we do not destroy our businesses and that we do not decimate jobs. 
Chris Hipkins 
: This is just embarrassing. 
NICKY WAGNER 
: It is interesting that Mr Hipkins over there scoffs about jobs but the key issue for New Zealanders right now is to make sure that they keep working. 
Although New Zealanders are very aware of and love their natural environment many of them have little capacity to financially contribute to managing climate change. Also unlike Labour we do not believe that the Government should profit at the expense of the people of New Zealand trying to do the right thing by the environment. 
The new legislation will be fiscally neutral and absolutely focused on dealing with climate change. We will not be screwing windfall profits out of the ordinary New Zealander. For the first 3 years the bill will halve the costs for businesses and households. Labour’s scheme put a price on households at approximately $6 per week; National’s scheme will cost householders about $3 per week. But of course the long-term motivation is to encourage all New Zealanders to embrace a low-carbon lifestyle and to modify their behaviour accordingly. 
Debate interrupted.
Smith Nick: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
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Smith Nick: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7963. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for Climate Change Issues) 
: 
 I am starting to enjoy this debate on the Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill because we are starting to get to the crux of the issue. We have just heard in Charles Chauvel’s contribution that Labour has moved a Supplementary Order Paper to basically increase the price of petrol and power for consumers. Let us be very clear: if we remove the two-for-one-option and the price cap the result is a higher power price. 
Chris Hipkins 
: As opposed to tax; he would rather tax them. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: I have just heard an interjection from Mr Chris Hipkins. Members will be interested in this. On Sunday Mr Chris Hipkins put out a press release saying that New Zealanders were paying too much for their power and that we needed to do things to reduce the power price. That is what he said on Sunday. Then Labour members come to the Chamber to debate this emissions trading legislation and move a Supplementary Order Paper that will put the price of power up even more. That is the problem with the Labour Party: it is all over the place. It is a shambles. We do not know what Labour members stand for. They cannot have Chris Hipkins say on Sunday that power prices are too high and must go down and on Tuesday introduce a Supplementary Order Paper that will actually put the power price up. At least Mr Chauvel is honest about that fact. That shows the sort of nonsense that we have heard in the Chamber. Mr Chauvel is more thoughtful than Mr Hipkins. I suggest that he is a bit cross about the press release that Mr Hipkins put out on Sunday which is an embarrassment for the Labour Party in the very week we are debating emissions trading legislation. 
Why has the Government said we need to soften the impact of the emissions trading scheme? It is very simple. In case members have not noticed we are part of the biggest economic downturn since the Great Depression. This Government has gone to a huge amount of work to try to get us back on to a growth path. The last thing we want to do is to snuff out that recovery with an overly ambitious emissions trading scheme so we have made quite a pragmatic decision not to introduce it in one hit and instead to stage it to soften the impact on households. I say to Mr Hipkins that the advice from officials is very clear. The advice is that to vote for Mr Chauvel’s Supplementary Order Paper is to vote for a higher petrol price and a higher power price. Every member on the Government side of the Chamber will be watching the way Mr Chris Hipkins votes because if he believes in his press statement of Sunday he will vote against his own colleague’s Supplementary Order Paper.
Tremain Chris: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
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Tremain Chris: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7959. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
CHRIS TREMAIN (Senior Whip—National) 
: 
 I move  
That the question be now put 
.
Cunliffe David: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
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Cunliffe David: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7942. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Labour—New Lynn) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. I understand that you want to advance the debate and I wonder whether you might to clarify what is clearly a range of understandings of your ruling be kind enough to read out the words again and repeat your interpretation so that we can all be of common mind. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: That is fine. I am happy to do that. The Leader of the House sought leave: “I seek leave that for the Committee stage of the Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill members have unlimited number of speeches of 5 minutes each but not more than two consecutive speeches on each part or provision in the provision.” Members may be aware that I have a little system here in which I record down the side of this paper when members have taken two calls because I am trying to obey the leave that was granted. I am doing my best. 
John Boscawen 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: No I have ruled on this. I will take a call.
Boscawen John: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
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Boscawen John: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7942. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
JOHN BOSCAWEN (ACT) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: I do not know that I need any further assistance. I have made a ruling based on my interpretation of the leave. Does the member have new material? 
JOHN BOSCAWEN 
: I do have new material. I was interested in that leave as well so I took the trouble of visiting the Clerk Mary Harris in her office late this afternoon. She advised me that the leave meant that members had unlimited calls but subject to the ruling of the Chair the Chair would allow no more than two calls taken together. In essence she was saying that we could give as many 10-minute speeches as we wanted and as the Chair would allow. We were not restricted to one double call or two double calls. As long as we had new material and it was a useful debate and the Chair allowed the debate to continue we could take as many double calls as we wanted and the Minister could take as many double calls as he chose. That was from Mary Harris the Clerk of the House this afternoon. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: With respect that is not what the leave says and I have interpreted it as clearly as I can. I am doing my best. I will take a further call from some other member.
Chauvel Charles: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
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Chauvel Charles: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7942. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
CHARLES CHAUVEL (Labour) 
: 
 I just want to make it clear that following a discussion internally amongst Labour members we with respect think you have got the ruling right. I am not saying that because I am trying to make any sort of petty point against the Minister; I am saying it because I think the Minister in his explanation of why you ought to take a different course has misunderstood the reason for which leave was sought and granted. Leave was sought and granted for a relaxation of the rules in this case because there was recognition that there had not been proper scrutiny at the select committee of a big bill that a big Supplementary Order Paper had been tabled on the day that— 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: I do not need to go into that stuff. 
Charles Chauvel 
: I am just saying we support your ruling. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: Thank you for that but I do not actually need it. I have in front of me some words and I am making my best possible attempt to interpret them. Can I just say to the Committee that leave was sought to depart from the convention. All I can operate from is what is in front of me. I am simply interpreting verbatim what is in front of me. Members may need to consider that on future occasions but I have an instruction from the House.
Smith Nick: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
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Smith Nick: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7942. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for Climate Change Issues) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. I am one who likes to engage in the debate in order to answer members’ questions. It has always been the convention that the Minister in the chair can take more than one call. When leave was sought by the Leader of the House it was to allow other members to be able to have more calls in the debate. We want to have a really good open debate about the bill. I find it a quite extraordinary ruling that when the House has granted leave to broaden the scope of members’ participation in the debate you interpret it as overruling and constraining the convention about Ministers taking more than one call. When leave is sought it is to extend the general rules that are there. I think it is a quite unusual ruling for you to imply that the attempt by the Government to extend the debating opportunities for members of the House also meant that the Minister’s speaking time was going to be constrained. If that was going to be the unusual interpretation quite clearly the Government would have not have agreed to leave on such a measure.
Tremain Chris: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
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Tremain Chris: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7941. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
CHRIS TREMAIN (Senior Whip—National) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. Taking up what the Hon David Cunliffe said I think it is the understanding of both sides of the House—[ 
Interruption 
] Well Mr Cunliffe just said that speakers are allowed two consecutive calls and after that additional calls but only one call at a time. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: That is correct. Members can take unlimited calls but they can have two consecutive calls only once per part.
Tremain Chris: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
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Tremain Chris: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7941. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
CHRIS TREMAIN (Senior Whip—National) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. There is a clear ruling which we need to abide by because the Leader of the House put it in place. I want to be clear about the Minister in the chair: by your ruling has he had two lots of two consecutive calls? 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: No he has had one. I am abiding my interpretation of the leave which is in front me. I had no part in passing it or even in its construction so I am trying to interpret it. He had two calls initially and because I do not have any other instruction I have applied a blanket interpretation.
Cunliffe David: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
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Cunliffe David: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7941. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Labour—New Lynn) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. I seek your clarification. It is the understanding of the Labour Opposition that members may take more than two calls per part but may not take more than two consecutive calls per part. Is that correct? 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: That is what the leave that was granted states. 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: So for example you correctly ignored my plea for a third consecutive call during my last intervention but that does not preclude me from taking a subsequent call during this part. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: That is correct. I just make another point here. The Minister in the chair Dr Nick Smith has raised the point that normally these rules do not apply to Ministers in the chair because they are able to take an unlimited number of calls to provide explanations. But I am bound by the leave granted which is in front of me— 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: But that was never intended to do that. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: What I need then to clarify this issue is for some member to seek leave that the Minister have more calls—if that is the understanding.
Tremain Chris: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
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Tremain Chris: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7941. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
CHRIS TREMAIN (Senior Whip—National) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. Speaking to your decision my understanding about the ruling on consecutive calls was that it was about consecutive calls in a row. So any member in the House may take two calls in a row and may have a number of two consecutive calls following that down the track. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: No. Let me read to you the leave that was sought. Well the salient point is that members have an unlimited number of speeches of 5 minutes each but not more than two consecutive speeches on each part or provision. 
Hon David Cunliffe 
: Consecutive. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: Yes on each part. So on the next part the slate is clean for members.
Vote: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
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Vote: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7926. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
A party vote  was called for on the question  
That the Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill be now read a second time. 
Ayes 63 
New Zealand National 58; Maori Party 4; United Future 1. 
Noes 58 
New Zealand Labour 43; Green Party 9; ACT New Zealand 5; Progressive 1. 
Bill read a second time.
Brownlee Gerry: Urgency 
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Brownlee Gerry: Urgency 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7900. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House) 
: 
 I move  
That urgency be accorded the second reading and passing through its remaining stages of the Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill; the introduction and passing of a Government bill; the passing through their remaining stages of the Corrections (Contract Management of Prisons) Amendment Bill the Border (Customs Excise and Tariff) Processing Bill and the Taxation (Consequential Rate Alignment and Remedial Matters) Bill and any bills into which any of those bills may be divided; the introduction and passing of a Government bill; and the passing through of their remaining stages of the Crimes (Provocation Repeal) Amendment Bill the Remuneration Authority Amendment Bill and the Biosecurity Amendment Bill and any bills into which any of those bills may be divided. 
This is a time of year when the legislative programme starts to cramp up quite considerably. There are a number of crucial dates that the Government needs to have legislation aligned for; the first of these is 1 January next year. In fact if the emissions trading scheme amendment is not passed in good time then the current emissions trading scheme provisions will prevail. We believe they would be bad for the economy. Therefore we are making the amendments today. 
The other bills in some cases deal with the sorts of general arrangements that the prison service may have to make over the Christmas period and also with the way it might progress in the long term. Getting clarity about that will be useful. The Taxation (Consequential Rate Alignment and Remedial Matters) Bill deals with issues like pensions superannuation rates and various other things and it is important that the House also deals with that bill well before the questioned time. No one I am sure will be surprised that the Government wishes to put in place legislation that makes it clear that the Remuneration Authority can take consideration of the general economic conditions when it is making its determinations. The Biosecurity Amendment Bill is a bill that should be passed in a timely fashion in order that we can further protect New Zealand’s borders. For those reasons the Government has taken urgency today.
Smith Nick: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
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Smith Nick: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7902. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for Climate Change Issues) 
: 
 I think it is worthwhile for the House to note that this morning I provided copies of the Supplementary Order Papers—both from me and from the Maori Party—and a briefing with officials to all members of the House in order to ensure that they could be informed on those events. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That action is appreciated.
Mallard Trevor: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
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Mallard Trevor: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7901. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour—Hutt South) 
: 
 With all respect to the point of order that my colleague has just raised I think we have just agreed that there not be a limit to the number of speeches that members can make in Committee. Therefore of course any concerns that he might have about closure disappear at that point. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I appreciate the point the honourable members have made and I think it is incumbent on the presiding officers to make sure that on important legislation such as this the debate is thoroughly heard. The honourable member also makes a perfectly valid point that where there are significant changes to the bill and where there are significant numbers of Supplementary Order Papers then there is obviously a need to make sure that those are properly considered and debated by the Committee. I think that the leave that the House has just given should give some comfort to members that reasonable debate will be enabled on these important measures.
Hughes Darren: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
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Hughes Darren: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7901. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon DARREN HUGHES (Senior Whip—Labour) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I have deliberately waited until this point to raise this point of order with you. Ordinarily I would have raised it at question time but I did not want you to think we were trying to delay matters. My point goes to the interaction you have with other presiding officers when we are in urgency and considering a big bill as we will be during the Committee of the whole House stage where there are substantial Supplementary Order Papers that have not had the chance for select committee scrutiny or for a decent amount of time for the Opposition to look at them propose amendments and line them up with the existing bill if there is no revised-tracked version of the bill. I inquire Mr Speaker as to your liaison with the three members who service the Committee of the whole House to ensure that the Opposition gets a fair run to be able to speak in the Committee stage on those parts given that they have been so heavily amended and there has been no chance for scrutiny before that. I am seeking your protection for the minority in that respect and signalling that to you at this stage.
Brownlee Gerry: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
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Brownlee Gerry: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — Procedure Second Reading In Committee 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7901. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House) 
: 
 I seek leave that for the Committee stage of the Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill members have unlimited numbers of speeches of 5 minutes each but no more than two consecutive speeches on each part or provision in the bill. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Is there any objection to that course of action being followed? There is none.
Brownlee Gerry: Business of the House 
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Brownlee Gerry: Business of the House 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7901. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House) 
: 
 I seek leave for there to be question time at 2 p.m. on Wednesday 25 November and Thursday 26 November and for questions to be lodged in the normal manner pursuant to Standing Order 372. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Is there any objection to that course of action being followed? There is none.
Vote: Urgency 
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Vote: Urgency 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7901. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
A party vote was called for on the question  
That urgency be accorded. 
Ayes 68 
New Zealand National 58; ACT New Zealand 5; Maori Party 4; United Future 1. 
Noes 53 
New Zealand Labour 43; Green Party 9; Progressive 1. 
Motion agreed to.
Dean Jacqui: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
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Dean Jacqui: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7900. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
12.  
JACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki) 
 to the  
Minister of Internal Affairs 
: Why is the Government introducing a new style of passport? 
Hon NATHAN GUY (Minister of Internal Affairs) 
: 
 We need to regularly update our passport to keep up with new technology and keep ahead of fraudsters. This new passport has more than 50 new security features which makes it harder to forge. It also has a new design and artwork that tells the story of New Zealand’s history through the themes of navigation and travel. 
Jacqui Dean 
: What reaction has he had from the public to the new e-passport? 
Hon NATHAN GUY 
: I am very pleased with the feedback we have had on this new passport. People seem to like the new design which now has a unique New Zealand flavour about it. Every page has different artwork on it which makes it harder to forge. Indeed I am very pleased that we have managed to keep the price of the new passport the same at $150.
Blue Jackie: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
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Blue Jackie: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7896. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
9.  
Dr JACKIE BLUE (National) 
 to the  
Minister of Transport 
: What progress has been made on improving public transport infrastructure in Auckland? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Transport) 
: 
 I am pleased to report to the House that Cabinet has approved $500 million for the purchase of new electric trains for Auckland. This is a very significant milestone on the way to delivering Auckland a modern and more reliable rail network. The upgrade and electrification of the Auckland rail network will provide for more frequent smart and modern trains at peak times and will help to meet future passenger demands. 
Dr Jackie Blue 
: What is the next step in securing this improvement in rail services for Aucklanders? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: The confirmation of this funding—without a regional fuel tax for Auckland—will see KiwiRail and its client the Auckland Regional Transport Authority re-engage with the market very early next year for the supply of new trains. I expect the first electric trains to be on the ground and operational from 2013. Work with the Auckland Regional Transport Authority and the New Zealand Transport Agency will continue to ensure that these new and increased levels of services can operate sustainably and with reasonable levels of passenger transport subsidy. I expect that work to be completed within the next 6 months and I can report that the trains are currently running to time. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: How can 2009 be seen as anything other than a waste for Auckland rail when the Government is today re-announcing the same amounts of money that Labour had set aside for this project— 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: Where was the money? 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: —from the regional fuel tax and when the months and months of dithering by him as Minister has interfered with the tendering process meaning that Auckland now stands to be able to buy fewer trains with exactly the same amount of money? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: I point out to the member opposite that the Government is achieving by good fiscal management the full roll-out of the Auckland trains without the 9.5c extra regional fuel tax that the previous Government was going to place on Auckland motorists.
Shanks Katrina: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
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Shanks Katrina: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7891. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
5.  
KATRINA SHANKS (National) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: What is the Government doing to help young people into work? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
: 
 Today we announced 2000 new places on our highly successful Job Ops scheme. This is on top of the 4000 places that we announced in August. With Community Max this Government has created 9000 opportunities for our young people since August. We are proud that businesses all over the country are stepping up to take advantage of the scheme. 
Katrina Shanks 
: Why is the Minister extending the Job Ops scheme for young unemployed people? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: It has been so successful that we expect all the places will have been filled by early next year. Employers are stepping up and giving thousands of young people an opportunity to get work experience and skills that would not otherwise have been available in the recession. This Government is putting more money into a scheme to make an extra 2000 places available for young New Zealanders. 
Jacinda Ardern 
: Does she acknowledge that it is misleading to measure unemployment rates by benefit numbers alone as she continues to do when tens of thousands of young people are not eligible but according to letters and comments that we have received they are struggling to find work to fund further training or education; or will she continue to write them off as just people “at school who would like to have a paper run”? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: I think what the member does not understand is that this is a complex bunch of young people who are doing a lot of different things so we do have some who are looking for only an hour’s worth of work a week. They are counted in the household labour force survey. I am happy to send some information over to the member if it will help her to get a better picture of what those young people are like and what they are looking for.
Dunne Peter: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Death of Air Force Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster 
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Dunne Peter: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Death of Air Force Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7881. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) 
: 
 On behalf of United Future I join with the other speakers in paying a tribute and extending condolences to the family of the late Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster who so tragically lost his life last week. It is hard enough to comprehend the loss of life in an active military situation but it is even worse in a situation such as the one that befell Flight Sergeant Forster when to all intents and purposes he was back on safe ground in New Zealand reunited with his family after his stint overseas in Afghanistan and I suspect probably looking forward to a more tranquil lifestyle for at least the foreseeable future. His work was dangerous but I still think he probably imagined that this would be a slightly more relaxed period of life than he had recently endured. All of that makes the loss of him that much more difficult for his family and his friends. They had endured the hard times or so they thought and now when they were back together again this tragedy has struck. 
In this House this week we will be engaging ourselves in a range of important business to get ready for the Christmas period that is soon to befall us. Around the country people are starting to plan what their holidays might bring and what things they need to bring to a conclusion before the end of this year. For Flight Sergeant Forster’s family there will be a special emptiness. This time will be a time of great sadness with a great feeling of loss. I just hope—and I am sure it will happen—that all his friends in the New Zealand Defence Force and people in the wider community who have been so shocked by the circumstances of his death will bind around his family now to provide them with the strength and the comfort that they will need not only in these immediate difficult days but also in the more difficult days ahead. 
As others have said this was a man of exceptional courage working for a defence force that prides itself on its commitment its integrity its professionalism and its dedication. In many senses this is loss for the entire New Zealand Defence Force as well as for the Forster family. Our hearts go out to all of them in this time of tragedy. Our hope is that they can draw comfort from the strength and support of each other and that the memories that are positive outweigh in the long term the sense of loss they are now enduring. 
Motion agreed to.
Sharples Pita: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Death of Air Force Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster 
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Sharples Pita: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Death of Air Force Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7881. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES (Co-Leader—Maori Party) 
: 
 The Maori Party stands to convey our respects to the bereaved family and the community at the loss of Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster. The impact of this tragedy will have spread from Waiouru across Manawatu right through to Bamian province in Afghanistan—all the areas where Sergeant Forster was respected and very well liked. But the shock of his death is even more pointed in that he was killed in the line of duty carrying out a routine process to mark an unexploded bomb when the shell exploded killing him and injuring another Defence Force member. I also have a close association with Waiouru Military Camp. I served there as a cadet in my younger days and I also helped to establish tikanga Maori at Waiouru and the marae at Rongomaraeroa o nga hau e wha i reira. 
So I have been proud to be associated with the soldiers of Te Taua o Tumatauenga. Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster had just returned from active service in Afghanistan. He had served with the Air Force for 27 years and ultimately he lost his life in the line of duty for a country that he was proud to serve. We too are proud to honour him and all those soldiers within Ngati Tumatauenga who display such extraordinary courage in their commitment to Aotearoa. 
As is our custom in respecting the dead I must also acknowledge the passing of a young Maori leader Hawea Vercoe a dynamic leader who sadly has also been taken from us. Na reira korua Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster Hawea Vercoe haere korua ki te okioki hai aha? Hai whariki ma matou haere haere ra.  
[ 
So to you two Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster and Hawea Vercoe depart to the resting place; and for what purpose? To be a cover for us depart farewell 
.]
Hide Rodney: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Death of Air Force Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster 
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Hide Rodney: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Death of Air Force Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7880. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) 
: 
 I rise on behalf of the ACT Party and also on behalf of the Acting Minister of Defence Heather Roy to mark the passing of Royal New Zealand Air Force Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster who was killed earlier this week in the course of his duty at Waiouru. The Hon Heather Roy is unable to be here as she is attending Flight Sergeant Forster’s funeral at Ohakea. 
Flight Sergeant Forster served his country for close to three decades having joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1982. In that time he was posted to No. 14 Squadron RNZAF Tech Wing Ohakea No. 75 Squadron RNZAF the Ohakea gun bay the Ohakea armament maintenance workshops the directorate of aeronautical configuration and the New Zealand Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron. Flight Sergeant Forster was involved in exercises in both Australia and Singapore. His first operational deployment came in 2005 when he was deployed to the Gulf to the United Arab Emirates. This was followed by deployment to Afghanistan’s Bamian Province with the explosive ordnance disposal team from which he returned only in April. As others have remarked this was dangerous work and clearly Flight Sergeant Forster was a very brave and courageous man. 
Flight Sergeant Forster was a consummate professional in everything he did. This is reflected in his service history and the honours and awards that he received: the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal the New Zealand Operational Service Medal the New Zealand General Service Medal (Afghanistan) and the NATO Medal for the Non - Article 5 International Security Assistance Force Operation in Afghanistan. 
He was also a well-liked and respected mentor of those who worked with and for him. He was patient with subordinates and always worked hard to help them to be the best that they could be. Andrew Forster communicated well across the ranks and was held in the very highest esteem by both his superiors and his peers. 
He was careful to balance his work with his commitments to his family: his wife Karen and their three children Candice Mitchell and Ashlee. Our thoughts today are with them. Times like this remind us it is not just our servicemen and servicewomen who serve our country; it is their families as well. 
Andrew Forster’s death is a reminder of the dangers faced by our New Zealand Defence Force personnel every day no matter where they are serving. He will be deeply missed by his friends at Ohakea throughout the Royal New Zealand Air Force and across the wider New Zealand Defence Force. Our condolences and deepest sympathies go out to Flight Sergeant Forster’s family his friends and his colleagues.
Norman Russel: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Death of Air Force Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster 
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Norman Russel: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Death of Air Force Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7880. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Dr RUSSEL NORMAN (Co-Leader—Green) 
: 
 The Green Party rises today to express its condolences to the family friends and colleagues of Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster and particularly to Andrew’s wife Karen and their three teenage children. Prior to his tragic death in Waiouru last week Sergeant Forster had been involved in defusing bombs in Afghanistan. The work of defusing munitions in conflict zones is vital to allow civilians to get on with their lives and essential to maintain civil society in conflict zones. 
New Zealanders are proud of the work done by people such as Flight Sergeant Forster. New Zealand has sent teams of brave individuals like Sergeant Forster all over the world. In recent years we have sent bomb disposal experts to countries such as Lebanon and Cambodia to assist in clearing these conflict zones of thousands of munitions which each year kill and maim scores of innocent people. 
I cannot imagine how dangerous the work that Sergeant Forster involved himself in was. The work of Sergeant Forster and his colleagues overseas will have saved many people from death and injury. It takes a special sort of person to put him or herself in harm’s way so that others may lead normal lives. The Green Party is proud to stand in Parliament today and pay tribute to Andrew Forster for the brave work he did in the interests of making the world a safer place.
Goff Phil: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Death of Air Force Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster 
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Goff Phil: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Death of Air Force Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7879. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon PHIL GOFF (Leader of the Opposition) 
: 
 I join the Leader of the House in expressing on behalf of my colleagues in the New Zealand Labour Party our deepest sympathy to Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster’s wife Karen and his three children Candice Mitchell and Ashlee. We give them our deepest sympathy for their tragic loss. Our condolences go also to members of the New Zealand Defence Force. As a former Minister of Defence I know that the Defence Force is very much a family and his colleagues within the force will be grieving his loss at this time. 
Sergeant Andrew Forster had served with the New Zealand Defence Force for 27 years. He was extremely well regarded. He was respected for the job he did and he was much liked by those whom he worked with. According to one friend he was always there for his friends and his colleagues. Any loss of life in these circumstances is tragic but it is all the more so when we consider that Sergeant Forster had just returned from a rotation in Afghanistan. It was in Afghanistan that we would have expected him to be most at risk. Of course in serving his time there he was separated for 6 months from his wife and children. 
Working in the disposal of live ammunition is a dangerous job wherever one does it but Andrew Forster accepted that risk. He was an experienced armaments specialist and he was enjoying his new role with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron in Trentham which I had privilege of opening last year. Accidents of this nature are fortunately rare—only one has happened in the last 5 years—but the New Zealand Defence Force will be conducting an inquiry into the accident to see what lessons can be learnt from it. 
Sergeant Forster’s funeral will take place at Ohakea air force base just a few minutes from now. Our thoughts are with his family his friends and the New Zealand Defence Force at this extremely sad time.
Brownlee Gerry: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Death of Air Force Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster 
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Brownlee Gerry: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Death of Air Force Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7879. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House) 
: 
 I seek leave to move a motion without notice on the death of a member of the armed forces. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Is there any objection to that course being followed? There is none. 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: I move  
That this House express its sorrow at the death of serving Royal New Zealand Air Force Flight Sergeant Andrew Bruce Forster.  
On behalf of the Government and on behalf of this House I offer our deepest sympathies to the family of Flight Sergeant Forster—his wife Karen and their three children—as well as to his squadron colleagues and friends. 
Flight Sergeant Forster lost his life on Thursday last week while conducting his duties as a bomb disposal expert for the New Zealand Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron. He had served our Royal New Zealand Air Force for more than 27 years and earlier this year completed a 6-month deployment to Afghanistan as part of New Zealand’s provincial reconstruction team. His was a career of service: service to the New Zealand Defence Force and service to his country. Flight Sergeant Forster loved his work and he was respected by his colleagues as a consummate professional. He had been recognised with medals for long service and good conduct and for his service in Afghanistan operations. 
His tragic death serves to remind us of the risks and sacrifice that members of our armed forces routinely undertake on our behalf. We are grateful for their bravery their dedication and their efforts on behalf of all New Zealanders. We stand alongside them as they mourn this tragic loss today and we offer them our support and condolences at this most difficult time.
Business of the House 
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Business of the House 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7901. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Business of the House 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House) 
: 
 I seek leave for there to be question time at 2 p.m. on Wednesday 25 November and Thursday 26 November and for questions to be lodged in the normal manner pursuant to Standing Order 372. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Is there any objection to that course of action being followed? There is none.