Parker David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Parker David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:617;Page:12849] 
11.  
DAVID PARKER (Labour—Otago) 
 to the  
Minister for Small Business 
: What reports has he received on compliance cost reductions achieved by Government departments in recent years? 
Hon JOHN TAMIHERE (Minister for Small Business) 
: 
 I am advised that since June 2001 Government departments have achieved 104 compliance cost reductions. Seventy-five of those have created time savings of some significance for small businesses and 29 have cut the financial costs of compliance absolutely. Those are the kinds of sensible pragmatic changes that small business people like the ones the honourable member and I met in Queenstown on Monday are looking for from this Government. While the other side of the House contents itself with moaning and whingeing we are looking forward to very good results for business. 
David Parker 
: What work is the Government undertaking to continue to reduce the compliance cost impact of Government decisions? 
Hon JOHN TAMIHERE 
: While other parties when in Government have assumed they know how decisions impact on the 96.8 percent of Kiwi businesses that have 20 or fewer staff just because they have talked to their mates in big business we have actually gone out and engaged directly with small businesses—kanohi ki te kanohi as we say. This Government is taking active steps to ensure the needs of small businesses are considered when decisions are made and that is why we have recently made a number of major decisions in that area. That is why we have appointed a Small Business Advisory Group and that is why we have a Minister for Small Business. 
Hon David Carter 
: Is the Minister aware of the IMD international competitiveness report dated 2004 which shows New Zealand declining to No. 55 out of 60 countries whereas in 1998 New Zealand ranked at No. 10; if not when will the Minister take his portfolio seriously? 
Hon JOHN TAMIHERE 
: The Minister is aware of a huge array and range of surveys. Most of them are supportive of this Government’s position. 
Paul Adams 
: Does the Minister recognise that the Government’s attempt to foist masses of information on the small-business sector about what it thinks is best for small business is neither wise wanted nor well received as evidenced by the fact that out of 19000 enterprises in North Shore City only 200 turned up to the Government-sponsored small-business day talkfest and is that not further proof that this Government is tone-deaf to the realities and concerns of the small-business market; if not why not? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: There are three questions at least there. The Minister may comment on two of them. 
Hon JOHN TAMIHERE 
: I regret that that member’s information is absolutely wrong with regard to attendance numbers and the like. There are actually hundreds and hundreds of small businesses that go through those days. Two hundred attended the ministerial speech. I regret that that member looks on the poor side of life too often. If he would like to come to my office I will give him a briefing and he will walk out with a large smile on his face.