edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
Hipango HareteHARETE HIPANGO (National—Whanganui): Mr Speaker with the leave of yourself I invite that the members' address on this piece of legislation be deferred to the next sitting of the House because understandably there's a much more compelling matter that is to be addressed before the House.SPEAKER: Well I would like the member to keep going until 4 o'clock which was the agreed time. Thank you.HARETE HIPANGO: Accordingly Mr Speaker with your leave it is a healthy matter that I rise as the last National Party speaker to address and take a brief call in the House in the first reading of the bill.It's also quite appropriate in this instance to address the House in the vein and vernacular of a smear and disclose campaign as I speak to the bill whilst also reflecting on what led to the National Cervical Screening Programme—an unfortunate experiment. The Cartwright inquiry of 1987 to 1988: the watershed moment in patients' rights not only in New Zealand but globally leading and paving the way towards a patient-centred healthcare system and establishing a system of accountability to patients.The implementation of a successful national cervical screening programme in New Zealand has led to a dramatic reduction in deaths from cervical cancer. However currently the process to access information from the National Cervical Screening Programme register—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! Order! Please. There's a lot of noise.HARETE HIPANGO: —for those dedicated health professionals who provide services to our new—SPEAKER: Order! I will now interrupt the member. In accordance with the determination of the Business Committee I call on the Rt Hon Bill English to make his valedictory statement but note that the matter that we were just discussing is set down for further consideration on the next sitting day.Debate interrupted.
Parmar Parmjeet; Tolley AnneDr PARMJEET PARMAR (National): Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I'm taking a short call to support the Health (National Cervical Screening Programme) Amendment Bill in its first reading.If you look at the amendment that this bill brings to the Health Act it's actually a very small amendment but it brings a very significant value to this Act. With this amendment what will happen is that all the health professionals that are involved in providing the National Cervical Screening Programme will be able to access the National Cervical Screening Programme register. So when we talk about these health professionals that will be able to access this register we are talking about general practitioners that are taking smears we are talking about nurses that are taking smears we are talking about lab staff—that is testing specimens for cytology HPV infection histology. And also we know that some individuals—some women—have to undergo a colposcopy as well. So those specialists doing colposcopies and the staff around them will also be able to access this National Cervical Screening Programme register.Yes access is there but the way they access the information currently is quite cumbersome. So it is going to make the access and also the delivery of the service much more efficient. And this register the National Cervical Screening Programme register actually is central to the success of the National Cervical Screening Programme because all the test results are reported to this register. This register holds the information about women enrolled in the National Cervical Screening Programme and also the history of their smear tests. So this needs to be held in a very professional manner. So that's why I want to emphasise that by bringing this amendment it will be only health professionals that are involved in the National Cervical Screening Programme that will have access to this register.The other thing to note is that it is going to create an offence if people access the register when they are not authorised because adding deleting or amending any information on this register can cost lives. This register is to support the programme to reduce and also to help detect early signs of cervical cancer so that the mortality rate from cervical cancer can be reduced. The other thing that I want to emphasise is that the access to this register will remain an auditable activity. So that's really important.We know that the cervical smear test is quite effective. There are different ways it can be done and all those tests are proven but still in some communities the uptake of this test is quite low. And that's why we want to send a very clear message out there that with this amendment the information is still going to be secure and it's going to be available only to health professionals that are providing cervical screening services. So overall it's a good bill. It's going to make the delivery of the test efficient and I support this bill and commend this bill to the House. Thank you.DEPUTY SPEAKER: The next call is a split call—five minutes each with a bell after four minutes.
Wagner NickyHon NICKY WAGNER (National): Thank you very much Madam Deputy Speaker. I'm very pleased to support this bill. It's just another example of the work that National did in Government now coming to fruition. Basically it's a pretty simple amendment. It amends the Health Act 1956 and it is to modernise the process of managing clinical information. It will assist the staff of the National Cervical Screening Programme register health professionals and support staff who provide the clinical screening services to women.So what it will do is it will give real-time direct access to information from the register and as the previous member Jenny Marcroft has noted it has privacy safeguards around that. To have better sooner and more convenient access to vital screening information will benefit women of course but also the health professionals and the whole health system. Direct access will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of screening for prevention for investigation and also for treatment and I'd like to thank Dr Shane Reti for explaining to us in his speech last night how direct access to information will practically assist GPs and other health professionals and improve the investigation of screening process.National supports this bill. We are pleased to see our work that we did in Government coming to fruition and it will have a positive effect on women's health. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker.
Swarbrick ChlöeCHLÖE SWARBRICK (Green): E Te Māngai tēnā koe. Tēnā koutou e Te Whare. I rise on behalf of the Green Party in support of what we think is a brilliant motion. This is something that is really cool basically and in summary. I fundamentally believe personally as does the Green Party that accessibility and transparency are two different things. New Zealand consistently ranks really highly when it comes to transparency and I believe there was a report released last week that spoke to exactly that. But transparency—being able to go on to Parliament's website and seeing what's happening—is a very different thing to being able to understand what is actually happening. I've had many people in my very short time as an MP tell me that they feel as though they need a law degree or a degree in economics to be able to wade through what they perceive as very technocratic jargon and waffle. Accessibility is about ensuring that people are able to engage properly and that's what we believe this here—these ePetitions—will allow people to do. Why this is so fundamentally important is because democracy is not something that happens just every three years with a general election. We believe that it is crucial that people are able to speak to and engage with Parliament outside of those general election cycles particularly about things that they are passionate about and that they feel as though this Parliament may potentially be neglecting. ePetitions also—what is being proposed—will provide certainty around form and around process as was mentioned previously by the Hon Chris Hipkins because there will be that back and forth and to and fro with the Office of the Clerk to ensure the certainty around that formulation of the petition itself to ensure that there are no hiccups along the way and that it is eventually tabled in the House. I think a lot of Kiwis are currently actually engaged with third-party petitions which are available online and probably aren't aware of how much of a work around this is as was mentioned by Chris Hipkins—about the fact that this is a very convoluted and actually messy process whereby we end up having ePetitions presented in paper form in the name of one person and in the name of multiple people. So it's time to enter the 21st century in gist. New Zealand's actually quite late to the game on it despite considering it in 2014. We saw the USA and Canada do it in 2013 and the UK doing it in 2015. I find myself—quite peculiarly—agreeing with my colleague across the House Jami-Lee Ross about how it is incredibly important here that we see that this is a parallel process that happens in tandem with those other forms of paper petitions to ensure that we are not excluding people because fundamentally democracy is about access. So in summation the Green Party are very proud to support this motion.Motion agreed to.
Mitchell ClaytonCLAYTON MITCHELL (NZ First): Thank you Mr Speaker. I rise on behalf of New Zealand First to support this motion. It's a very sensible move that the Government are putting forward. It's about direct democracy and enabling people to have their say in an easier fashion. As was already said by the member across the House Jami-Lee Ross ePetitions or electronic petitions now that we're going online—it is the 21st century and we want to make it very very clear and easy for people to participate.The petitioning of Parliament—asking for the democratic process for the Government to take action is exactly what those petitions do and I just want to take the House's time to outline a couple of petitions that have created actions and legislation that is hopefully going to take its place.We had Sean and Cody Roberts petition the House a number of years ago when their father was killed in an accident caused by a foreign driver. Their petition was asking for the Government to consider the need for foreign drivers to actually apply for a New Zealand driver's licence when they get here but the action was not followed. A second petition was raised—and it was using iPetitions which is an online format—that then was printed off and then put to the House by Judy Richards. Judy Richards lost her son Rhys Middleton in a similar accident with a foreign driver who had been here for a short amount of time—over three months in fact. This petition is asking for the action of a Government to actually bring in legislation to make sure that if those foreign drivers are here for a shorter period of time—longer than three months that is—they sit a driver's licence and that action is taking place right now. That action actually has got Mark Patterson one of our New Zealand First MPs to put a member's bill in his name looking to take action on those sorts of things.That's how important democracy is in this country; that's going to be further helped to move through in this House in a speedy fashion. There is a process that people do have to follow when it comes to those ePetitions and the paper online versions with signatures will not be removed. We believe that this is an absolute democratic right of people to be able to engage. There are a number of petitions in the House right now.We commend this moving forward. We thank the Business Committee for enabling us to sit up here and speak on this today. To some people it doesn't matter but to very many of us it matters a lot. So thank you to the House for the time.
Ross Jami-LeeJAMI-LEE ROSS (National—Botany): Mr Speaker thank you. The National Party also supports this notice of motion. It does bring the petitioning system into the 21st century and allows for online petitions to be followed through on the parliamentary website. I thank the Minister Chris Hipkins for his long-winded explanation about the need for a greater democracy in the parliamentary system with the online petition system that is being established. I know we've been spending time recently dragging out bills and he did a fine job of doing so in his speech just now.We support this but I do want to highlight a couple of comments that I also made at the Business Committee: that we do want to ensure that there is still the opportunity for members of Parliament and members of the public who have engaged in an online petition where they've sought support from members of the public for an issue or for an action and they haven't quite followed the parliamentary system to still print out those petition signatures and have those presented in hard copy. If we're talking about increasing democracy allowing New Zealanders to have the opportunity to petition the Parliament if there has been a petition that has been carried out either with or without support from members of Parliament in an online fashion—as often is the case when members of the public who feel passionately about an issue go and launch an online petition—then they wish to present that in hard-copy form they should still be allowed to do that. I make these comments because that's some feedback I gave to the Clerk during a Business Committee discussion and I do want to put on record that that is something that must still continue.So this is a good move. It moves the Parliament in the right direction of moving into the 21st century with online petitions. I hope it leads to more New Zealanders taking part in the parliamentary process. As long as there's still other avenues for New Zealanders there it's a good move.
Points of Order — Motion Without Notice—Leave to Move
Seymour David; Mallard TrevorPOINTS OF ORDERLeave to Move Motion Without Notice—South African Property RightsDAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I seek leave for a motion without debate that this House condemns the South African Government's effective dissolution of property rights and the rule of law.SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that? Yes there is.
Seymour David; Mallard TrevorDAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I'd like to draw your attention if I can to Standing Order 3 which gives a number of definitions including the definition of leave of the House" which says it may be "granted without a dissentient voice". You clearly had a dissentient voice giving leave for this motion and gave leave anyway. With that in mind—SPEAKER: No no. Order! If the member listened occasionally he would stay up with things. The Minister made a ministerial statement. He did not require leave. The only effect of the ministerial statement was that one party which is much smaller than the rest missed out on an opportunity to contribute."
Ministerial Statements — 2018 Winter Olympics
Davidson MaramaMARAMA DAVIDSON (Green): It's so cool to be able to add the Green voice to the congratulations for our Winter Olympics team who have just come back from Pyeongchang and it was super cool to watch actually both Nico Porteous and Zoi Sadowski-Synnott winning in the Olympic runs that they did. Zoi for example needed to get a good score for her third run—three out of three—to be able to qualify for a medal. She did a fantastic second run and then she had a bad land in her third run but her first two runs were so fabulous that they were enough to carry her through and win her that amazing bronze medal. It was the first bronze medal after I think it was a 26-year drought for New Zealand at the Winter Olympics—a 16-year-old from Wanaka. I also watched Nico Porteous' Olympic run. Now that stuff should not be humanly possible. The way he went flying through the air freeskiing half-pipe—it should not be possible for someone so young. So I'm pretty proud of our whole team. I'm really proud of our New Zealanders. I share the enthusiasm of my colleague James Shaw who is a skier and snowboarder. He is a bit more excited about the Winter Olympics than other sports.Just to finish off I want to emphasise thanks and acknowledgment of the support team and the whānau and what they have to go through in getting there and supporting their young members for these events. I only have by comparison my young boys' rugby teams at Manurewa rugby club on a Saturday and I find that pretty stressful. So massive congratulations for all the support around all of our athletes and Olympic winners and bronze medalists. Kia ora tātou.
Tabuteau FletcherFLETCHER TABUTEAU (Deputy Leader—NZ First): I rise on behalf of New Zealand First to add our congratulations to the team that went and participated in the Winter Olympics. New Zealand has been a long and passionate competitor in the Winter Olympics. Of the near 3000 competitors that attended the event New Zealand sent 21 athletes who made the grade which in and of itself is an amazing feat. There were 102 events and New Zealand competed in 13.But this is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the achievements of Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and Nico Porteous—both bronze medallists teenagers who have been so passionate in their competition and representing New Zealand overseas. I congratulate them and finish by offering a quote from the pair which I really appreciate: I'm … going to keep being myself and … continue to work hard and [ski]." Sadowski-Synnott agreed: "I hope everything stays the same; I hope it's all normal." It's an amazing statement. It summarises the Kiwi attitude of such high performance athletes who want to come home and just want to get on with a normal life. Thank you Mr Speaker."
Coleman JonathanHon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (National—Northcote): On behalf of the National Party I'd like to join with the Minister for Sport and Recreation in congratulating our Winter Olympians on a historic result in South Korea. Two bronze medals—our first Winter Olympics medals for 25 years—is something for all New Zealanders to celebrate. I think it reflects the growth of winter sports in New Zealand but also the extensive investment in high performance sport that has been made over many years led by my predecessor in the role before I took it on Murray McCully who invested and made the case extensively for Government investment in the high performance sports network.It was good that the Minister was able to attend the Winter Olympics in South Korea. They would have been buoyed by the Government's support. But I want to especially congratulate our two bronze medal winners Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and Nico Porteous. Zoi won bronze in the big air snowboarding and Nico won bronze in the men's ski half-pipe. They are both young people from Wānaka representing their country at the highest level and bringing a huge amount of pride to all New Zealanders.I also want to note that the Paralympics are being held later this month. Of course there will be a strong New Zealand contingent there. We wish those Olympians all the very best for success in South Korea as well.
Robertson GrantMINISTERIAL STATEMENTSNew Zealand Winter Olympics Team 2018—CongratulationsHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister for Sport and Recreation): I wish to make a ministerial statement to congratulate the 2018 New Zealand Winter Olympics team.SPEAKER: Just to make it clear there was objection from David Seymour to that process.Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: As the Minister for Sport and Recreation it is my pleasure to congratulate Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and Nico Porteous on winning the bronze medals at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. It was an honour to represent the Government at these games.Annelise Coberger won New Zealand's first ever Winter Olympics medal in ski slalom at the 1992 Winter Olympics. After waiting 26 years to build on that amazing achievement these two talented young New Zealanders became the youngest New Zealand Olympic medallists across both summer and winter games. They were part of our biggest ever Winter Olympics team one that doubled its medal target and also achieved a further four top-five finishes.Collectively these results reinforce the strength and depth of our snow sports high performance system. The Government is proud to invest in this through High Performance Sport New Zealand and through Sport New Zealand's investment in high performance training facilities. In the lead-up to the Winter Olympics this included the installation of a landing bag at Cardrona to enable our international freestyle athletes to trial and perfect their amazing tricks. Both Nico and Zoi specifically told me how much this had helped them hone their performances.New Zealanders can be extremely proud of Zoi Nico and the whole New Zealand team. Not only were their performances exceptional but their humility and gratitude for all the support that they had received were made clear at every opportunity. As a team they backed one another at every point and I want to congratulate Chef de Mission Pete Wardell and all of the New Zealand Olympic Committee crew for their role in making success happen.I also want to make a special mention of the Wells family who have been the backbone of snow sports and freestyle skiing in New Zealand for many years. The family have had to endure their share of heartbreaking injuries over the years and sadly this happened again this year for Jossi and Byron Wells. But the Wells family were there to support all the other team members throughout and I know that they will continue to be a big part of our teams in future years.I'd also like to take this opportunity to mention our three-strong New Zealand team for the Paralympic Winter Games taking place this month between 9 and 18 March and wish Adam Hall Carl Murphy and Corey Peters all the very best of luck.Kiwis achieving excellence on the world stage is a source of national identity pride and inspiration. This year's Winter Olympics team have achieved an exceptional result and we congratulate them wholeheartedly.
Points of Order — 2018 Winter Olympics—Congratulations
Speaker's Rulings — Photography in Chamber—Protocol
Robertson GrantPOINTS OF ORDERNew Zealand Winter Olympics Team 2018—CongratulationsHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister for Sport and Recreation): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I seek leave to move a motion without notice congratulating New Zealand's Winter Olympians.SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that process? There is.
Hipkins Chris; Brownlee GerryBUSINESS STATEMENTHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): Thank you Mr Speaker. Today the House will adjourn until Tuesday 20 March. In the week of 20 to 22 March the House will consider the third readings of the Education (Tertiary Education and Other Matters) Amendment Bill and the Customs and Excise Bill and the committee stage of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2017–18 Employment and Investment Income and Remedial Matters) Bill. On Tuesday 20 March as agreed by the Business Committee there will be a debate on the report of the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations treaty the first reading of the Parihaka Reconciliation Bill will take place on Thursday 22 March and Wednesday 21 March will be a members' day.Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Does the Leader of the House intend having large numbers of Ministers—up to eight at a time—coming into the House to talk out bills where there is almost unanimous agreement in the House that they should pass?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): Well that's eight times as many members as were present on the Opposition benches in the House last night during those debates. I think the House's democratic process might be enhanced if the National Party did a little bit of work from time to time.
Brownlee Gerry; Seymour DavidTHURSDAY 1 MARCH 2018The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.Prayers.SPEAKER'S RULINGSChamber Lobbies and Galleries—PhotographySPEAKER: Yesterday evening a point of order was raised about photography in the Chamber. A photograph of the Chamber was taken and then posted to Twitter by the Hon Iain Lees-Galloway. I will remind members and staff that photographs may be taken in Parliament only with my permission. Publication compounded the breach. I intend to consult with the Business Committee about updating the 2011 protocol around photography which probably pre-dated a lot of the current forms of camera but in the meantime members and their staff should abide by the existing rules.Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. While you go to consult the Business Committee was it a breach of privilege or not?SPEAKER: No.DAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT): I seek leave of the House to move a motion without notice but with debate—SPEAKER: The member will resume his seat. We haven't come to the part where members can do that yet.
Wednesday 28 February 2018 - Volume 727
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the House take note of the report of the Finance and Expenditure Committee on the Budget Policy Statement 2018.Ayes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party 8.Noes 56New Zealand National 56.Motion agreed to.
1. Newborn Enrolment with General Practice Bill—Health Committee ProgressDr PARMJEET PARMAR (National) to the Chairperson of the Health CommitteeQUESTIONS TO MEMBERSNewborn Enrolment with General Practice Bill—Health Committee Progress1. Dr PARMJEET PARMAR (National) to the Chairperson of the Health Committee: What progress can she report on the Newborn Enrolment with General Practice Bill?LOUISA WALL (Deputy Chairperson of the Health Committee): The Newborn Enrolment with General Practice Bill was referred to the Health Committee on 13 December 2017 submissions closed on 16 February 2018 and the committee received 25 submissions. The committee has been briefed by the member in charge of the bill and began hearing from submitters on the bill today.Dr Parmjeet Parmar: Does she anticipate a swift report back to the House; and if so when does she think it will return for further consideration by members given broad support for the bill at first reading because its implementation will significantly improve health and social outcomes for children?SPEAKER: I am going to allow the member to answer the question because we are in relatively new territory for some members as to questions for members but in future the only supplementaries that will be allowed are matters that are the absolute responsibility of the chair. The time of the report back the chair's anticipation of what's heard or the matter of broad support are not the chair's responsibility. Louisa Wall—a very short answer addressing the question. LOUISA WALL: Thank you Mr Speaker. The date by which the committee must report back to the House is 13 June 2018.
12. State Sector Health and Safety—Government InitiativesMARJA LUBECK (Labour) to the Minister for Workplace Relations and SafetyState Sector Health and Safety—Government Initiatives12. MARJA LUBECK (Labour) to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: What action is the Government taking to improve health and safety in the State sector?Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY (Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety): The Government Health and Safety Lead was established late last year to lift the State sector's game in health and safety. The team is led by Ray Smith from corrections and he has assembled an excellent team of experts. As part of the work of the Government Health and Safety Lead I was pleased to host an event at Parliament on 14 February for 35 State sector chief executives to pledge their commitment to health and safety and to join the Business Leaders' Health and Safety Forum.Marja Lubeck: What are the Minister's priorities in relation to State sector health and safety?Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: The plan of the Health and Safety Lead is to lift the Government's game in relation to leadership and worker engagement. I'm also interested in how we can leverage the power of the State in relation to procurement. Almost 20 percent of New Zealand's GDP is State procurement and this could be an important lever to lead us towards good health and safety practice.Marja Lubeck: Why is health and safety important to this Government?Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: Well we are making good progress in relation to health and safety but my ambition is that we're amongst the best in the world at keeping people safe. The Government believes that the Public Service should be an exemplar that walks the talk on health and safety.Hon Amy Adams: Does the Minister's concern for health and safety extend to ensuring that State sector agencies don't contract with law firms who can't protect their young female staff from sexual assault?Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: I'd certainly be interested in looking into that issue. It's an issue that's been around for a very long time—probably for the entire nine years that that member was in Government.
11. Defence Force—Allegations in Hit & RunHon MARK MITCHELL (National—Rodney) to the Minister of DefenceDefence Force—Allegations in Hit & Run11. Hon MARK MITCHELL (National—Rodney) to the Minister of Defence: Does he stand by his statement I've always said that we have utmost confidence in the culture and professionalism in our Defence Force personnel that we deploy internationally"?Hon RON MARK (Minister of Defence): I do.Hon Mark Mitchell: Does the Minister feel that our New Zealand Defence Force have withheld information from him or has he seen anything that suggests that the Defence Force acted with anything other than the highest professional standards during Operation Burnham?Hon RON MARK: I do not believe they've withheld any information from me. I believe the briefings I've received have been very professionally presented and very thorough. And the second part of your question is true.Hon Mark Mitchell: So then why in relation to Operation Burnham hasn't the Minister come out in support of our New Zealand Defence Force?Hon RON MARK: I think I have consistently and repeatedly said that I have the utmost confidence in the men and women of the New Zealand Defence Force both their professionalism and the way in which they interact with people around the world where they are deployed. I can't do more than that.Hon Mark Mitchell: So have you rejected the allegations made against our New Zealand Defence Force in the book Hit & Run?Hon RON MARK: The matters to which the member's referring are currently in the hands of the Attorney-General who's been tasked by the Prime Minister to examine all of the evidence. I'll await the decision of the Attorney-General and there'll be conversations after that. Hon Mark Mitchell: So in light of that has the Minister given any advice to either the Prime Minister the Deputy Prime Minister or Cabinet that in his view an inquiry is not required into the allegations contained in the book Hit & Run?Hon RON MARK: There have not been any discussions on those matters at those levels. At the moment the process that's been followed is that I have asked for and received a full and comprehensive briefing. The Attorney-General has been asked to examine the matter and the evidence and is currently doing that. Once that process is concluded—Hon Dr Nick Smith: Does the Minister have no view?Hon RON MARK: —and the Attorney-General has given his decision Mr Smith then there will be conversations around those matters and I have no doubt at the Cabinet table.Hon Mark Mitchell: So you're telling me in the House today—SPEAKER: Order! I'm not telling the member anything.Hon Mark Mitchell: You're right. Sorry Mr Speaker. So is the Minister telling me in the House today that as Minister of Defence you have had no conversation with either the Prime Minister the Deputy Prime Minister or Cabinet about the allegations made against our New Zealand Defence Force in the book Hit & Run?Hon RON MARK: It is fair to say I have had conversations with the Deputy Prime Minister on the matter but most of those conversations are around process an agreed process and we'll follow that process right through to the end."
9. Families Package—Effect on Māori and Pacific PeopleTAMATI COFFEY (Labour—Waiariki) to the Minister for Social DevelopmentFamilies Package—Effect on Māori and Pacific People9. TAMATI COFFEY (Labour—Waiariki) to the Minister for Social Development: Will the Families Package benefit Māori and Pacific people; if so how?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development): Absolutely. This Government recognises that Māori and Pacific are our youngest population groups with great potential but we also recognise that Māori and Pacific disproportionately experience persistently low incomes when compared to the general population. Under the Families Package low and medium income households will benefit by a winter energy payment to help heat their homes over winter a Best Start payment for families with a baby a boost in Working for Families family tax credit payments and increases to the accommodation supplement and accommodation benefit. Action this Government is taking will help lift Māori and Pacific households out of poverty.Tamati Coffey: Why is it important that the Government support Māori and Pacific through its Families Package?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: As I previously alluded to Māori and Pacific people in New Zealand are much younger. The median age for Māori and Pacific is 23.9 and 22.1 respectively compared to 38 for New Zealand overall. We also know that Māori and Pacific have higher birth rates particularly in urban centres. Māori and Pacific will make up a huge part of our future workforce. Ensuring that they have the best start to life and can meet rising living costs is important for all New Zealand.Tamati Coffey: How will support for Māori and Pacific families support the Government's goal of reducing child poverty?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: We know that around half of children in low-income households are Māori and Pacific. Putting more money into these households will support the Government with reducing child poverty. Māori and Pacific households will benefit from all of the measures introduced through the Families Package. If Māori and Pacific are better off so is New Zealand. This Government wants all New Zealanders to get the very best start possible and is absolutely committed to reducing child poverty in this country.
8. Minimum Wage—Effect of IncreaseHon AMY ADAMS (National—Selwyn) to the Minister for Workplace Relations and SafetyMinimum Wage—Effect of Increase8. Hon AMY ADAMS (National—Selwyn) to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Does he have confidence in the advice he receives from officials?Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY (Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety): I do have confidence in the advice provided by officials. However it will not surprise the member that I do not always agree with that advice. Hon Amy Adams: Does he agree with the advice from Treasury that states that young and vulnerable workers are particularly impacted by minimum wage increases and that no youth rates would significantly increase the job losses; if not why not?Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: I am aware of a two-sentence suggestion amongst a 12-page report on the minimum wage that suggests that retaining youth rates would be a safety valve. Unfortunately Treasury don't provide any evidence for that assertion.Hon Amy Adams: Does he have confidence then in the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment - modelled impacts on increasing the minimum wage to $20 an hour that it would lower employment by 28000 jobs and that is before including the effect of abolishing the starting-out wage?Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: Well the situation that we have right now is that we've got a proliferation of low-paying jobs. What we need to do in this country is improve the quality of jobs that are available particularly for young people. I find it amusing that we have on the one hand the Leader of the Opposition running around saying that we're not going to have enough people for the jobs that are out there and on the other hand we have the member saying that we're not going to have enough jobs for people. Which is it National? Get your story straight.Rino Tirikatene: Does the Minister agree with advice from officials that the announced employment relations changes are likely to lead to higher wages more engaged employees and greater labour productivity?Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: Yes I do and I note that we have inherited a low-wage economy and a productivity recession from the previous Government. We can and we will do better.Hon Amy Adams: In light of the clear and unequivocal advice that he has received why is the Minister pressing ahead with making the minimum wage $20 an hour scrapping 90-day trials in more than 70 percent of jobs and abolishing the starting-out wage when all of these will badly hurt the prospects of young and vulnerable workers who just want to get a job?Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: Well I totally disagree with the premise of the member's question and I do agree with the advice that I have received that the changes we propose will lead to higher wages more engaged employees and greater labour productivity.
7. Environmental Protection—Single-use Plastic BagsMARAMA DAVIDSON (Green) to the Associate Minister for the EnvironmentEnvironmental Protection—Single-use Plastic Bags7. MARAMA DAVIDSON (Green) to the Associate Minister for the Environment: What action is she taking in response to yesterday's Greenpeace petition from over 65000 New Zealanders calling for an end to plastic bags?Hon EUGENIE SAGE (Associate Minister for the Environment): I've been struck by the number of New Zealanders who really care about the harmful impacts of single-use plastic bags so I have asked Ministry for the Environment officials to report back on options for taking action on these bags.Marama Davidson: What can be done about this?Hon EUGENIE SAGE: Officials will look at a range of options including a ban or a levy. More than 30 countries have legislated on single-use plastic bags. New Zealand has been lagging behind and unlike the former Government this Government will take action.Marama Davidson: What is already happening to reduce the use of plastic bags?Hon EUGENIE SAGE: Retailers including Countdown New World Z Energy and Mitre 10 have pledged to phase out the use of single-use plastic bags by the end of next year. Bunnings Warehouse got rid of them years ago and Pak 'N Save has charged for them for some time but that deals with only 75 percent of the bags being used. We need to take action on the remainder.Marama Davidson: Why is this important environmentally?Hon EUGENIE SAGE: Because unlike under the previous Government we recognise that producing these bags—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Mr Bayly Order! Sorry. Mr Bayly you're quite close to the Minister who's answering the question and unfortunately the way the microphone system works here we're hearing you more than her.Hon EUGENIE SAGE: Thank you Mr Speaker. They're important environmentally because oil is used to produce them and they create waste. They may be a convenient habit but they end up in the ocean and then seabirds fish and turtles choke on them.
4. New Zealand Bill of Rights Act—Proposed ChangesVIRGINIA ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Minister of JusticeNew Zealand Bill of Rights Act—Proposed ChangesVIRGINIA ANDERSEN (Labour): To the Minister of Justice what announcements has the Government made regarding the Bill of Rights Act 1990?SPEAKER: Have one more go.4. VIRGINIA ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Minister of Justice: What announcements has the Government made regarding the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Justice): On Monday the Prime Minister the Attorney-General and I announced that Cabinet had approved in principle to amend the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 to provide a statutory power for the senior courts to make declarations of inconsistency under that Act as well as a requirement that Parliament respond to those declarations.Virginia Andersen: What significance does this decision have in principle on human rights in New Zealand?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Cabinet's decision in principle is an important step in upholding human rights in New Zealand whilst recognising the sovereignty of Parliament. New Zealand is unusual in the Westminster system in that we have a unicameral Parliament and this will provide an additional check on the actions of Parliament. There is still further work to be done in consultation with other parties and indeed with Parliament's Privileges Committee which is yet to be concluded.Virginia Andersen: Will this allow courts to strike down legislation?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: No absolutely not. We have been quite clear that the purpose of this decision is to put forward a process that requires Parliament to respond to a declaration because after all it is possible for Parliament in its collective wisdom to get things wrong on rare occasions. This upholds the sovereignty of Parliament completely—Hon Judith Collins: Getting the courts to decide—no courage.Hon ANDREW LITTLE: —despite what Judith Collins might say.Hon Amy Adams: In light of the Attorney-General having confirmed that the Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill limits the right to freedom of expression as set out in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act can the Minister confirm that this is just the sort of legislation that would be challenged by the senior courts and referred back to Parliament for consideration for breaching the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: The Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill as it works its way through Parliament has not had a negative Attorney-General vet under section 7 of the Act. If that member wants to race off to the senior courts to challenge it she is more than welcome to do so.
2. Tertiary Education—Funding of Regional InstitutionsANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI (Labour) to the Minister of EducationTertiary Education—Funding of Regional Institutions2. ANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI (Labour) to the Minister of Education: What action has the Government taken to preserve tertiary education in the regions?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education): This morning I announced an $8.5 million cash injection for the troubled Tai Poutini Polytechnic (TPP) on the South Island's West Coast so that it can continue operating over the coming year. This funding boost is needed to keep the polytechnic running and to improve quality pending some wider sector changes. The extra funding is a strong demonstration of this Government's commitment to tertiary education delivery on the West Coast. The Tertiary Education Commission has also agreed to write off $25 million of debt for under-delivery owed by TPP as it simply will not be able to repay that amount.Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki: Is Tai Poutini unique in facing these sorts of challenges?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Regrettably no. There are a group of institutes of technology and polytechnics (ITP) that like TPP are facing immediate and pressing challenges to their financial viability and sustainability unable to modernise their teaching and learning to better meet the needs of learners and employers.Hon Steven Joyce: No actually. How many of them have actually not been delivering courses like TPP?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Mr Joyce pipes up. Of course this is all his doing. We have inherited from the previous Government a polytechnic and ITP sector that frankly is nearing being a basket case.Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki: Why has the situation for institutes of technology and polytechnics deteriorated to this extent?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: There are a variety of causes—one of which of course is the funding pressures that they were placed under by the previous Government. We've also seen plunging participation in polytechnic-level training under the previous Government and the running down of regional education provision under the previous Government. This Government is committed to addressing all of those things.SPEAKER: I thought Mr Joyce—Hon Steven Joyce: I've changed my mind.
Clark David; Tolley AnneHon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I want to first put on record my appreciation of the technical knowledge of that member in his contribution to the House. I think it is actually really helpful to have for those watching at home a good explanation of the practice that is being supported here. It is an important contribution to our screening programme across New Zealand which is vital in saving lives across a range of interventions and it draws attention to the importance of a debate where you have people with expertise in different areas bringing different things to the conversation. So I just want to place on record my thanks to Dr Reti for that contribution. The most significant amendment in this bill is the repeal and replacement of section 112J in Part 4A of the Health Act. Currently section 112J covers only disclosure of information from the register. What the replacement section 112J does is that it explicitly covers the activities of the register—so the access to the register the use of register information the retention of information from the register and the disclosure of information from the register. As the Hon Julie Anne Genter mentioned in her contribution the Privacy Commissioner has given this sign off—provided the existing set of criteria applied—and the Attorney-General's New Zealand Bill of Rights Act check has been signed off as well. So those who will now be able to get direct access to the register will be the staff working in district health boards who undertake the day-to-day administrative tasks associated with the register—the smear takers laboratory and colposcopy providers and associated administrative staff and screening support service providers. So this will hopefully provide for more timely result-sharing and will mean that the right people can get the results at the right time. It's about bringing the legislation up to date with—DEPUTY SPEAKER: I'm sorry to interrupt the member—and before I say anything further can I apologise. I did hesitate because I wasn't sure whether you were the Hon Dr" so I acknowledge your proper title. I'm sorry to interrupt the member. The time has come for me to leave the Chair. Debate interrupted.The House adjourned at 10 p.m."
Woodhouse MichaelPOINTS OF ORDERChamber Lobbies and Galleries—PhotographyHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National): I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. It's been brought to my attention that a photograph has been posted on social media of the Chamber which was taken by a stranger in the gallery and passed to the member the Hon Iain Lees-Galloway. This raises three points: firstly there have been some very strict guidelines given about the appropriateness of taking photos in the Chamber; secondly while the photo itself wasn't taken in the Chamber but from the gallery that is also in breach of the rules of this House; and thirdly the specific purpose of the photo was to draw attention to the absence of members. Normally Speakers' rulings would refer to the absence of individual members but in this case it was to a group or class of members. So I would just ask you to consider these breaches but also to remind the House of the very important reasons why that is inappropriate behaviour.DEPUTY SPEAKER: Yes. In fact I correct the member—they're not guidelines; they're actually Standing Orders. There are very strict rules: nobody takes photos without the permission of the Speaker. If that has happened and someone has used that in social media my advice to them is that they delete that immediately and we will refer this to the Speaker. But it is very clear in Appendix D of the Standing Orders and then the Speakers' rulings that the Speaker has to give permission for any photographs taken of this House in action.