Ryall Tony: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Ryall Tony: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:621;Page:16794] 
6.  
Hon TONY RYALL (National—Bay Of Plenty) 
 to the  
Minister of Civil Defence 
: What responsibility does he take for the capability shortfalls detailed in the review of the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Civil Defence) 
: 
 I take responsibility together with the Minister of State Services for asking in October 2003 for a review of the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management’s progress towards meeting the requirements of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002. The review shows that good progress has been made in some areas. Some shortfalls have been identified. It is the responsibility of the chief executive of the Department of Internal Affairs to report back by March 2005 on the steps to address those requirements. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: Why in mid-September did the Minister say he had confidence in his ministry’s ability to manage a national disaster yet 6 weeks later an independent report damns his ministry as completely unable to manage a national disaster; is this “leaky homes” all over again where he is completely oblivious to the collapse of a department for which he is responsible? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The first part of the question relates to the original question. 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: The answer to the second part of the question is no anyway. But I want to tell that member that the civil defence organisation nationally has the responsibility to see that the regional civil defence organisations are ready and the Manawatu floods showed just how well that had been done. 
Janet Mackey 
: Can the Minister tell the House about the good progress being made in implementing the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: An interjection was heard before that question finished. 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: The report found that the ministry has made good progress in implementing the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act. For example local response capabilities in the four regions visited for future emergencies will be good; that was Hawke’s Bay Auckland Kapiti and Ruapehu. There was a high awareness of the legislation and its requirements good progress has been made on local response plans good progress is being made in the establishment of civil defence emergency management environments and that person on the other side seems to be very sad about how communities are resilient. 
Simon Power 
: What does the Minister have to say to Rangitikei farmer Chrissy Collins who today says that she and her neighbours in the Whangaehu Valley were surprised and frustrated with what they saw as a poor response from civil defence during the February floods? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: One will always find people who are aggrieved because they have faced a natural disaster. I remind that member that this Government responded immediately. We went up several times. The Prime Minister went and the Minister of Agriculture went. But Don Brash did not go for over a week. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: Does the Minister have confidence in the director of civil defence in light of this report which shows significant gaping holes in the implementation of the civil defence legislation and the comment that these reviewers have extreme concern about him and his ministry’s ability to coordinate a national disaster recovery effort? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: I have confidence that the director will do what is required by law and that says that group plans need to be completed by July 2005. The National Civil Defence Plan has to be completed by December 2005 and the director is working towards it. But I think with the help of the chief executive of the Department of Internal Affairs he will do better but that member obviously does not want to listen because he is prattling on himself. 
Janet Mackey 
: Does the Minister consider that some of the concerns raised in the report are a direct consequence of the previous National Government closing the training facility for civil defence—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I said there were to be no interjections during question time. Mr Power does not know how lucky he is; he is a senior whip. He will stand withdraw and apologise. 
Simon Power 
: I withdraw and apologise. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I will hear the supplementary question all over again please. 
Janet Mackey 
: Does the Minister consider that some of the concerns raised in the report are a direct result of the previous National Government’s decision to close the civil defence training facility? 
Simon Power 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I fail to see how the Minister has any responsibility for the previous National Government and would ask you to rule accordingly. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That was not what was asked. The Minister was asked about current policy and whether it related to the closing of a particular facility. 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: Yes and they also set up the latest arrangement where the director of civil defence was given greater independence and of course we are changing that. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: I seek leave to table two documents; one shows that the staff of the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management has turned over 80 percent during the term of the Labour Government. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: I seek leave to table an answer to a written question where 6 weeks before this damning report the Minister expressed full confidence in his department. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is.