Smith Nick: Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Bill — In Committee 
Smith Nick: Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:636;Page:7171] 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson) 
: 
 I have a very very simple question for the Minister Clayton Cosgrove in respect of the Committee stage of the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Bill. On the bill’s introduction he said that the objective was to speed up the resolution claim process. We know that after the last 4 years it has been a disaster and a flop. We know that of the 4000 claims that have been made fewer than 600 have been settled and that it is costing on average $100000 per settlement and the actual amount that the homeowner is receiving is less. 
The test I want to give to the mantle of the Minister is how much difference will this bill make. We know that last year 180 claims were settled and we know that another 500 claims were lodged. So it is going backwards. My simple question to the Minister is how many claims does he think—with this bill passed this year—we will settle next year? 
Mark Blumsky 
: Can he tell us? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: Could any member of the Government tell us? They say this bill will enable homeowners to get justice and to get justice more quickly. We believed them in 2002 and we have found that it was a fraud and the bill has been a failure. So I ask the Minister in the chair Clayton Cosgrove given that he settled only 180 claims last year how many he will settle with this new legislation next year. 
Mark Blumsky 
: More or less. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: Can he give an estimate? A target? We know that 3000 claims are outstanding. Can the Minister give me any estimate? The silence is deafening. Every member of the Government has his or her head down. Why is that? Maybe Marian Hobbs will answer. I ask her how many settlements she thinks we might get next year. How many of these homeowners might get some justice next year? 
Hon Marian Hobbs 
: I am reading about verbal violence. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: The member considers it is a joke. It is a very serious question. The Government presents a bill to the House slams that bill through under urgency and says that it will address the problem of leaky homes. It is a simple question. How many claims will the Government resolve next year? We know that claims are flowing in at a rate of about 400 or 500 per year. I say to the Minister at the very least that if he is to get on top of the problem we suggest that he settle as many claims as are newly lodged—or will 2007 be the same as 2006 2005 2004 2003 and 2002 in that we are going backwards and more claims are being lodged than are being resolved? 
I say to the Minister that by his not answering that question he is effectively saying to those leaky-home owners that this is just another spin job another fraud and another delay tactic in trying to avoid duck and halt those New Zealanders being able to get justice. I simply say to the Minister that if he is not prepared to test the mantle by actually giving a target to the new tribunal as to what it is to achieve he is failing. The Government can change Ministers—he is the seventh Minister to have the responsibility in this Government—change departments and change names but leaky-home owners need solutions and the Minister needs to set a target. 
I also want to hear from the Minister about this. He is proposing to shift responsibility over to the Minister of Justice. Does that mean Minister Clayton Cosgrove will still be responsible for it? That is a fair question. After May when the responsibility for the tribunal will transfer over will Clayton Cosgrove—the Minister who has told the House that this bill is the solution—be responsible or will we have just another chapter of “pass the hot potato”? 
Paula Bennett 
: They could get another Minister; that would be No. 8. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: We could get Minister No. 8. I ask the Minister when the transfer— 
Darren Hughes 
: Almost as many deputy leaders as the National Party has had. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: I know that member is going to have only 2 more years in the House before Nathan Guy takes him out. Can the member answer for me whether this bill will result in a new Minister being responsible for resolving this problem. 
Darren Hughes 
: We’ve got very good Ministers here. We can pick any one to do it. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: There we are. We are none the wiser. On the two key issues of how many resolutions we are going to get with this bill and which Minister will be responsible the Government is absolutely silent. The National Party simply says that leaky-home owners deserve better than this. This Government is continuing to fail them. This is a fraud of a Christmas present for those leaky-home owners.