2. Question No. 2—HousingBROOKE VAN VELDEN (Deputy Leader—ACT) to the Minister of HousingQuestion No. 2—Housing2. BROOKE VAN VELDEN (Deputy Leader—ACT) to the Minister of Housing: Is she confident that Kāinga Ora will meet its deadline of 1 July 2023 for complying with the healthy homes standards and can she confirm that the Government will not give Kāinga Ora an extension to its deadline? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development and Employment) on behalf of the Minister of Housing: We've heard from landlords that there have been challenges across the sector in complying with the healthy homes standards. COVID-19 did create delays with labour shortages issues accessing tenants' homes and supply chain problems for products like heat pumps and insulation materials. We want to be pragmatic about our response to this but that is currently under active Cabinet consideration and so I cannot pre-empt a Cabinet decision. Kāinga Ora has made good progress with 84 percent of Kāinga Ora's tenanted housing stock meeting the standards or being upgraded right now: 43775 homes—so 68 percent—already meet the standards and over 10600 Kāinga Ora homes are currently in progress. Kāinga Ora have also accelerated delivery from 180 homes being upgraded per week in June 2021 to 600 homes per week in October 2022. We are doing more to improve the quality of rentals and public homes than any Government in decades. Brooke van Velden: Point of order Mr Speaker. I'm not sure that the Minister addressed the question. She talked a lot about landlords but not necessarily Kāinga Ora and having confidence that they would meet the healthy homes standards nor confirming that they will not give Kāinga Ora—SPEAKER: Yeah I'm happy to rule on that. In terms of the first part of the question I would rule that it has been addressed. The second part of the question: not completely although there was information referring to it. What I will do is give you an additional question—Hon Grant Robertson: Speaking to the point of order.SPEAKER: Well I've actually made the ruling—Hon Grant Robertson: She did address it. She talked about Cabinet. SPEAKER: Yeah I—and I'll stand up on my feet this time. Yes that's right. I said that the Minister did address—I'll read the bit that I have a little bit of concern about: can she confirm that the Government will not give Kāinga Ora an extension". That wasn't explicitly addressed although what I am saying is that there was information that leads me to believe that it was addressed. But I am going to give the member an additional question. Brooke van Velden: Thank you Mr Speaker. Has Kāinga Ora asked for an extension to its 2023 deadline to meet the healthy homes standards? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Referring to the answer to my primary question the issue and the matter that the member is raising is something that's under active consideration. I certainly can't refer to details around that. Brooke van Velden: Will she rule out ever giving Kāinga Ora an extension to the healthy homes standards deadline? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: As I mentioned at the beginning many landlords including Kāinga Ora have experienced some challenges over the last couple of years due to COVID. They were unforeseen and with regards to that matter it is a matter that is part of something that is under active consideration. Brooke van Velden: When was the issue of a Kāinga Ora deadline brought to Cabinet? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: As I said this matter is under active consideration. With respect to anything regarding it it needs to be considered by Cabinet and in those instances anything related to such matter will be released in due course. Chris Bishop: Point of order. Mr Speaker. I've been watching the flow back and forth and I think two or three or maybe four times now the Minister has said that the matter is under active consideration. Now the fact that something is under active consideration does not obviate the Minister from answering that question in Parliament. It may be grounds potentially for withholding information under the Official Information Act but successive Speakers have ruled that the standards of accountability in Parliament in question time is different to that under the Official Information Act. If the Minister knows what the answer is she cannot just say that the matter is under consideration or even if it's actively or inactively. Many matters across Government are under active consideration on a regular basis. That does not mean Ministers are not accountable to the House for what matters are under active consideration. They have to answer or at least sir address the question. Dr Duncan Webb: Speaking to the point of order. Clearly Cabinet proceedings are confidential and the fact that a matter is under consideration by Cabinet—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! Points of order should be heard in silence. We don't need commentary. Can you start again. Dr Duncan Webb: The fact that the matter is under consideration by Cabinet is clearly a reason for not disclosing what is under consideration and therefore the Minister has clearly addressed the question. SPEAKER: Yeah it really comes under the banner that members might not be satisfied with the answer but the question has actually been addressed."