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O'Connor GregGREG O'CONNOR (Labour—Ōhāriu): What a shame that previous speaker David Carter didn't actually listen before standing up and speaking because he may have heard the explanation for his question from my colleague here the Hon Eugenie Sage.For those listening at home there are two important pieces of legislation. The first piece of legislation we heard tonight was about dealing with some urgent issues around COVID. It appears to have missed the attention of the previous speaker that we are in the middle of a COVID emergency and the first piece of legislation is intended to deal with that. The second piece of legislation—I hope you are listening the Rt Hon David Carter—is to ensure that any issues that arise from the need to address that one with some urgency are dealt with in the second piece of legislation which will go through with plenty of time to do the very things that you are worried won't be done. So can I encourage the member to sit and listen and he may learn something between now and the short time before he leaves this House. The Hon Judith Collins made an interesting comment here. If you'd sat here and listened you'd have thought that there is no risk to this country in allowing anybody who wants to with a big enough chequebook to come in here and buy what they liked. She pointed out that we are all children of immigrants here whether it was from the Pacific in the 1200s or right until recently. Well I happen to have a surname—and my cousin Damien next to me is another—the most common surname in this House is O'Connor which means we came from Ireland. That means that we understand what happens when strategically you lose all control of your land because it means that those with English-sounding names—and actually I do note that four of the speakers as I looked on Wikipedia all have English-origin names. Goldsmith Carter Bayly and Smith: all English surnames. The English came they owned the land in Ireland and so that meant that when there was a famine when the potatoes failed they were exporting the food from Ireland while the country went from 8 million to 1 million. They starved. That's what happens when strategically you lose control of your land. Now I agree that we do need to have the balance right. We do need overseas investment but overseas investment is about making sure that you keep control of your destiny. It's about being strategic and what we're talking about is strategy a strategy which clearly those members opposite are incapable of understanding. So for that reason this is a necessary welcome important piece of legislation that those who come after us will be very very grateful for. I commend this to the House.
Coffey TamatiTAMATI COFFEY (Labour—Waiariki): Thank you Madam Speaker. I'm looking forward to having this bill come before the Finance and Expenditure Committee mainly because this is something that New Zealanders are really passionate about: making sure that everything that we have here in New Zealand is protected for us as New Zealanders. And it shouldn't be seen in isolation: in fact this Government has done a lot of work. In terms of screening housing and in terms of forestry we've done a lot of work to make sure that New Zealanders are proud to say that actually New Zealand is for New Zealanders. But we can't turn away the thought that in fact overseas investment does in fact benefit New Zealand. We get to take advantage of some of the new technologies that overseas investment brings. Some of our productivity is driven by that overseas investment. So we don't want to shut it out but we do absolutely want to control it and why shouldn't we because we set the rules.One of the things that I'm looking forward to most about this bill coming before our select committee is the protection that it's going to afford land and our natural assets. Now those of us that have electorates which span the Eastern Bay of Plenty know that in fact there has been a lot of heartache especially around water and the Overseas Investment Office. In fact there have been applications from overseas companies to buy up sections of land which has beautiful pristine springs on it and in fact it's brought a lot of grief to Māori communities in the Eastern Bay of Plenty especially. I want to especially mention Ngāti Awa and also Ngāti Manawa as well who were thinking about embarking on water bottling as their way of economic freedom. But in fact what this bill is going to do is it's going to make sure that if there are applications that come in to buy tracts of land where overseas persons are looking to bottle our water then actually Ministers will need to consider the impact of that proposal on water quality and also sustainability. They will have to make sure that it is in the best interests and the benefits of New Zealanders.So this is a really good bill. It's long overdue—long overdue—and I know that when I go back to my electorate I'll be talking to a lot of our Māori communities who feel really passionate about the water-bottling issue and I'll be able to say that this Government is absolutely doing something to make sure that we've got some structure in place so that our land and our water isn't taken from underneath our noses. So I absolutely commend this bill to the House.
Allan KiritapuKIRITAPU ALLAN (Assistant Whip—Labour): I move That the question be now put.
SpeechASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Ruth Dyson): Before I call the next speaker firstly I forgot to say that the question is that the motion be agreed to but Mr Brownlee obviously knew what we were debating. Can I also say that I know there's a lot of pent-up energy because we haven't been debating as much in the last couple of months as we might have but I don't think that we need to use that energy to criticise public servants who don't have the opportunity—there are 119 members in the House that we can criticise so perhaps leave public servants out of the debate.
Parker DavidHon DAVID PARKER (Associate Minister of Finance): I move That the Overseas Investment (Urgent Measures) Amendment Bill be reported to the House by 25 May 2020 and that the committee have authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting (except during oral questions) during any evening on a day on which there has been a sitting of the House and on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House and outside the Wellington area despite Standing Orders 191 193 and 194(1)(b) and (c). I suggest to the House that this is necessary because we're in the midst internationally of a depression caused by COVID-19 that is predicted by many to be of a scale not seen since the Great Depression. The current regime for screening assets has no national interest test. It has only a freedom from corruption and ability to manage an asset test and even then those tests only apply to investments for most countries of $100 million or more; for investors from Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership countries $200 million; and for Australian investors $500 million. So they're very high thresholds and we think that with those high thresholds in the absence of a national interest test we need some more levers and we think that this risk justifies progressing this through a shortened select committee process. Many aspects of the bill will be enduring. The national interest test endures albeit it with that higher threshold but none the less we think that the interim measures justify a shortened select committee period.
Brownlee GerryASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Ruth Dyson): The question is that the motion be agreed to. Those of that opinion will say Aye to the contrary No. The Ayes have it. A party vote has been called for. I'll ask the Clerk to conduct a party vote please. Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam): Sorry—my apologies. Excuse me I know we're not meant to do this—this happened yesterday too. Look I don't normally call the votes and I shouldn't have this time because in fact the National Party has consistently said we do want to see this go to a select committee although we have our reservations. So I apologise but I need to correct our vote. ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Ruth Dyson): Thank you. I totally accept your apology Mr Brownlee. Mr Seymour called for a party vote so I'll ask the Clerk to conduct a party vote.
Strange JamieJAMIE STRANGE (Labour): I'm delighted to take a call on this bill. If there was ever a bill that highlighted the difference between the Opposition and the Government it's this bill because we've heard speeches from the Opposition who want to sell out New Zealand—who want to sell New Zealand - owned firms overseas. What we're saying is we need to keep New Zealand businesses for New Zealand. We've got a Government here who are taking a long-term view because the reality is when the businesses are sold they're sold. When they're gone they're gone. Somebody once said We don't want to become tenants in our own land." I wonder who said that and I think the Opposition members should think about that—we don't want to become tenants in our land. It's appropriate that this bill comes first after the Budget because the crux of this bill is about protecting New Zealand interests. There's been a growing sense of pride in New Zealand in terms of our response to COVID-19 and within that growing sense of pride there is a sense that we need to keep New Zealand for New Zealanders and that's what this bill does in a balanced practical way. I'll be interested to see how the Opposition vote after a few more speeches because I expect they will vote for this bill. There's another point I haven't heard raised in this debate which is that Australia Canada and a number of European countries have recently strengthened their foreign investment regimes. Are the Opposition recommending we get out of step with those countries because as a Government we believe it's important to be in step with some of our good friends the likes of Australia Canada and some of those European countries. So the point is that here we have a Government taking a long-term view keeping these businesses in New Zealand for the long-term benefit of New Zealand. I commend this bill to the House."
Webb DuncanDr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour—Christchurch Central): Thank you. Look despite the flailing around there it's good to know that the National Party is going to support this excellent piece of legislation through to a select committee because we actually do agree on that thing. If the member had listened he would have known that on this side of the House we are absolutely in favour of sustainable long-term high-quality foreign investment. But in these extraordinary times values are volatile and in some cases they are tumbling and the existing threshold of $100 million just isn't right. Now we have seen businesses which have some real fundamental strengths and strategic importance and the risk is that their values will plummet. The hyenas are circling around the fire and on this side of the House we say no we will not allow them to tear limb from limb the jewels of New Zealand industry and business. We will wait and we will support those businesses and if people want to come to this country with good money to invest in the long term to support New Zealand we welcome it. But we will not be the victims of international scavengers. This however is an extraordinary measure. It's not here for ever. That measure in particular is here for the time being—while those market conditions are extraordinary. So once those market conditions settle down and once the economic conditions return to normality those provisions will be set to one side and will not be being used. So that's why this is a good bill. I look forward to sitting on the select committee having a robust discussion with my friends from the National Party and seeing this through to becoming yet another plank in our response to the COVID-19 crisis. Thank you Madam Speaker.
Allan KiritapuKIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour): I just had the joy of googling the dancing Cossacks and so I have now for my benefit just had a very interesting political history lesson. So I thank the colleagues on the other side of the House and I look forward to watching that full YouTube clip in due course. This House at the moment—we are all living through a particular period of time that calls for extraordinary measures and this is indeed a bill that is very necessary right now for our economic security. It's not lost on all of us the significance of what kind of economic stimulus will be required over the next not just short period of time but quite some time. Globally we can see internationally markets are dropping all over the place so this here is a very necessary measure to ensure that New Zealand's economy is protected. It is specifically to aid in our recovery. Stepping back something that I think both sides of the House can agree on is that for a very long time New Zealand has needed a national interest test. Now I note that my friend the member from Ilam made some comments about not being able to see anything and this that and the other thing. Well some of the measures in this bill are measures that I understand they were offered a briefing on just prior to COVID intervening and stealing the thunder. So I do know that there have been attempts at least from this side of the House to enable our friends from across the aisle to have a detailed perspective. So I wanted to put that on the record. We are living through extraordinary times. It calls for extraordinary measures and this bill here the Overseas Investment (Urgent Measures) Amendment Bill is to assist us to do just that. I commend this bill to the House.
Hipkins ChrisURGENCYHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): I move That urgency be accorded the introduction first reading and referral to a select committee of the Overseas Investment (Urgent Measures) Amendment Bill the Overseas Investment Amendment Bill (No 3) and the Forests (Regulation of Log Traders and Forestry Advisers) Amendment Bill; and the introduction and passing through all stages of the Customs and Excise (Tobacco) Amendment Bill the Family Court (Supporting Families in Court) Legislation Bill and the Remuneration Authority (COVID-19 Measures) Amendment Bill. As has long been the custom on Budget days the Government intends to move urgency to progress legislation that delivers on some of the Budget's priorities and addresses issues that need a rapid response. This year those of course include our response to COVID-19. Three bills will receive a first reading and be referred to select committee; three others will pass through all of their stages. Two of the bills are concerned with overseas investment the landscape of which has greatly changed as a result of COVID-19. The Overseas Investment (Urgent Measures) Amendment Bill contains measures that need to be put in place urgently to mitigate the economic effects of COVID-19 and we're referring that bill to the Finance and Expenditure Committee for 10 days. The Overseas Investment Amendment Bill (No 3) proposes measures that allow risks posed by foreign investment to be managed more effectively. This bill will not have a shortened select committee referral but it's important that the committee is aware of the issues that it covers in order to enable them to consider the first bill effectively. The Forests (Regulation of Log Traders and Forestry Advisers) Amendment Bill strengthens the integrity of the forest supply chain. COVID-19 of course has highlighted the need to increase the resilience of this very critical sector as quickly as possible and the bill will go to select committee for a shortened period of three weeks. The Customs and Excise (Tobacco) Amendment Bill enacts measures to combat tobacco smuggling and secure Crown revenue from taxes on tobacco and as such it's closely linked to the Budget. It is important to have the bill enacted now so that preparations can be made for its provisions to take effect. The Family Court (Supporting Families in Court) Legislation Bill addresses the delays in the Family Court processes that have occurred since the process was reformed in 2014. It's urgently needed to speed up the resolution of conflict including family violence issues. The Remuneration Authority (COVID-19 Measures) Amendment Bill allows the Remuneration Authority to make temporary reductions to the salaries of elected politicians and senior public officials in response to COVID-19. The need for that to happen urgently is self-evident. I do commend this motion to the House. Motion agreed to.
Twyford Phil; Mallard TrevorHon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister for Economic Development): I move That this debate be now adjourned.SPEAKER: The question is that the motion be agreed to. Those of that opinion will say Aye; of the contrary opinion will say No. The Ayes have it.Hon Members: Party vote.SPEAKER: A party vote is called for.Hon Gerry Brownlee: No I think you misheard.SPEAKER: No no wait wait wait. I apparently misheard Mr Woodhouse when he called for a party vote.Hon Michael Woodhouse: A hearty bloke I said!SPEAKER: Do you want one or not?Hon Michael Woodhouse: No.SPEAKER: No? All right. OK.Motion agreed to.Debate interrupted.
Supplementary Estimates
Budget Statement
Appropriation (2020/21 Estimates) Bill — First Reading
Budget Documents
Robertson GrantAPPROPRIATION (2020/21 ESTIMATES) BILLFirst ReadingHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): I move That the Appropriation (2020/21 Estimates) Bill be now read a first time. Bill read a first time.
Robertson Grant; Mallard TrevorBUDGET DOCUMENTSHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): I hereby present the 2020 Budget Speech the Wellbeing Budget 2020 including reports on fiscal strategy and on child poverty and the summary of initiatives the Budget Economic and Fiscal Update and the Estimates of Appropriations for the Government of New Zealand for the year ending 30 June 2021.SPEAKER: Those papers are published under the authority of the House.
Robertson Grant; Mallard TrevorTHURSDAY 14 MAY 2020The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.Karakia.SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES DOCUMENTSHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): I hereby present the Supplementary Estimates of Appropriations for the Government of New Zealand for the year ending 30 June 2020.SPEAKER: That paper is published under the authority of the House.
Wednesday 13 May 2020 - Volume 745
COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Bill — In Committee
VoteThe question was put that the amendment set out on Supplementary Order Paper 489 in the name of Jami-Lee Ross be agreed to. A party vote was called for on the question That the amendment be agreed to. Ayes 2ACT New Zealand 1; Ross.Noes 118New Zealand National 55; New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Amendment not agreed to. The question was put that the amendments set out on Supplementary Order Paper 503 in the name of the Hon Kris Faafoi be agreed to.Amendments agreed to. Parts 1 and 2 Schedules 1 to 17 and clauses 1 and 2 as amended agreed to.The committee divided the bill into the COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Bill and the COVID-19 Response (Requirements for Entities—Modifications and Exemptions) Bill as set out on Supplementary Order Paper 490 in the name of the Hon Chris Hipkins.House resumed.The Chairperson reported the COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Bill with amendment and divided into the following bills: COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Bill and COVID-19 Response (Requirements for Entities—Modifications and Exemptions) Bill.Report adopted.
COVID-19 Public Health Response Bill — Third Reading
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the COVID-19 Public Health Response Bill be now read a third time.Ayes 63New Zealand Labour 46; New Zealand First 9; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 8.Noes 57New Zealand National 55; ACT New Zealand 1; Ross.Bill read a third time.
11. Question No. 11—HealthGREG O'CONNOR (Labour—Ōhāriu) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 11—Health11. GREG O'CONNOR (Labour—Ōhāriu) to the Minister of Health: What recent announcements has he made about support for frontline health workers dealing with COVID-19?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): Yesterday was International Nurses Day. Moreover this year is also the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife. I took the opportunity to thank 60000 nurses for the excellent work that they do every day. Their work is particularly visible to the public this year in that the work they're doing to test contact trace and care for COVID-19 patients is reported on daily. I also took this opportunity to announce three new initiatives to support our front-line health and disability workers like our nurses. These are firstly temporary accommodation; secondly counselling support; and thirdly a new clinical advice phone number.Greg O'Connor: Who can use these services?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: The $10 million ring-fenced accommodation fund will help protect vulnerable loved ones and help staff to continue delivering essential health and disability services during the COVID period. People who work in close contact with patients qualify if they have been redeployed to another region because of COVID-19 or if they live with a vulnerable person who is at a higher risk of severe illness should they contract COVID-19. This includes people who are aged 70 and over and/or have certain health conditions. The full list of conditions and criteria are listed on the Ministry of Health's website. We do want to keep all families safe and free from COVID-19 and this accommodation will help us to do that. Additionally the clinical support phone line can be accessed by medical professionals working in the community and the counselling support phone line is available for anyone who works in a health setting who needs to talk.Greg O'Connor: What other support is available to front-line workers needing further mental health support?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: We are a Government who take mental health seriously. Throughout the COVID-19 lockdown we made sure that mental health services continued as an essential service. We also put an additional $15 million aside for mental health supports that could be accessed by the New Zealand public from home as well as the tailored support for our front-line workers which I announced yesterday.
10. Question No. 10—HealthDr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 10—Health10. Dr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei) to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by all the Government's statements and actions on coronavirus management at Waitakere Hospital?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): Yes in their full context which includes the information available at the time.Dr Shane Reti: How many people associated with Waitakere Hospital have developed coronavirus infection apart from those admitted from St Margaret's?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I don't have the exact figures in that respect in front of me. Obviously that's a matter that the clinicians have judged and will count in the particular cluster. I'm happy to supply the member with a written answer if he wants to put down a written specific question of that nature.Dr Shane Reti: Further to that reply does he accept Waitakere Hospital is a cluster; and if so why is it not listed on the Ministry of Health website as such?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I'm happy to come back to the member with a specific answer on that. I'm sure it has to do with the way in which clusters are categorised. My understanding though—and I stand to be corrected on this—is that it's regarded as the St Margaret's Rest Home cluster because indeed that's where the residents were that were being cared for in the Waitakere Hospital and that only a limited number of people beyond that have been infected. And I would expect that that's probably why it doesn't meet the definition of a cluster in the terms that the member is suggesting.Dr Shane Reti: How is it a textbook management of coronavirus" that he has previously stated when Waitakere Hospital nursing staff were required to move between coronavirus patients one day—SPEAKER: Order! The member will start again and I'll ask the members on my left to stop interrupting their colleague. Yes I did work out who it was Mr Bridges. Start again.Dr Shane Reti: How is it a "textbook management of coronavirus" that he has previously stated when Waitakere Hospital nursing staff were required to move between coronavirus patients one day and virus-free wards the next day?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Whilst I don't quite agree with the way that the member's running sentences together there what I do know is that infection control is a clinical matter best left to clinical experts.Hon Alfred Ngaro: What does he say to the son who writes this morning "My mother went into Waitakere Hospital six weeks ago for a bladder infection but now it seems they have infected my old mother. I'm very angry. The chances of her surviving will be remote."?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I am not familiar with the specifics of that person's case and would not expect to be. Those are individual clinical matters obviously of a personal nature. But obviously anybody who is suffering at this time has my sympathy."
8. Question No. 8—Broadcasting Communications and Digital MediaKIERAN McANULTY (Labour) to the Minister of Broadcasting Communications and Digital MediaQuestion No. 8—Broadcasting Communications and Digital Media8. KIERAN McANULTY (Labour) to the Minister of Broadcasting Communications and Digital Media: How is the Government improving broadband access in rural and regional communities?Hon KRIS FAAFOI (Minister of Broadcasting Communications and Digital Media): The Government is investing in rural and regional network capacity in order to increase connectivity and the wellbeing of isolated communities as New Zealand's economy recovers from COVID-19. I'd like to thank the Minister Shane Jones who I worked with to announce a recent package which allocated $15 million for upgrading existing rural mobile towers which are at capacity upgrading wireless backhaul which connects remote sites to central networks and installing external antennas on households to improve coverage. This investment in rural capacity will allow the upgrade of existing mobile towers to bring broadband services to up to 8000 households in areas where they have limited or no connectivity. The capacity upgrades can be implemented relatively quickly to provide urgently needed connectivity.Kieran McAnulty: Why is it important to improve connectivity for New Zealanders who live in rural and regional communities?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: With the impacts of COVID-19 seeing increasing numbers of New Zealanders using broadband for education work and maintaining links with friends and whānau connectivity is more important than ever before. Upgrading infrastructure is likely to be the fastest way to provide broadband to rural households where there is currently coverage but the towers are at or near capacity. Broadband connectivity is crucial to assist economic activity in rural areas where capacity upgrades are urgent.Kieran McAnulty: What other work is the Government doing to improve rural connectivity?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: There's been plenty of activity to address connectivity issues in the last 2½ years. On top of the major programmes there has been additional investment to increase connectivity there's been the expansion of the Rural Broadband Initiative 2 and the Mobile Black Spots Fund in late December 2018 which saw a $100 million investment; also the West Coast connectivity package which came out of the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) of $45 million; and in February 2019 the Māori connectivity project and digital hubs—again out of the PGF—which was an additional investment of $21 million.
6. Question No. 6—EducationKIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour) to the Minister of EducationQuestion No. 6—Education6. KIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour) to the Minister of Education: What action is the Government taking in Budget 2020 to strengthen and support home-based early childhood education?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education): Home-based early childhood education (ECE) has been the fastest growing part of the early childhood sector. We're working to ensure that in the future at least 80 percent of the home-based educator workforce will hold a required qualification to ensure better and more consistent quality. In this year's Budget we're investing $36.2 million of additional funding over the next four years to support home-based early learning services' transition to a more professionalised educator workforce. This will lift the quality funding rate for home-based early childhood education by 5.4 percent from 1 January.Kiritapu Allan: How will this funding support home-based early childhood education services that do not yet qualify for the quality rate to support their educators to be qualified?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: It's important to note that there are two rates of funding for home-based services. One is the standard rate and the other is the quality rate for services that have higher levels of qualification. Budget 2020 is providing fees assistance for educators who otherwise wouldn't be able to access fees-free. This funding will provide tertiary fees assistance for up to 2600 home-based educators. Home-based visiting teachers are likely to experience an increase in their workload as they support those educators to gain their level 4 ECE qualifications and to recognise this the Budget is providing additional payments for those who are studying and increasing the visiting teacher hours' allocation by five hours per week.Kiritapu Allan: When can home-based early childhood education services expect to hear more about the phasing in of strengthened quality requirements?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: We've been working very closely with the sector to develop the reform programme and the implementation plan for that and I expect to be able to announce new regulatory requirements and the time frames around their implementation within the next month.
5. Question No. 5—EducationRt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Deputy Prime Minister) to the Associate Minister of EducationQuestion No. 5—Education5. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Deputy Prime Minister) to the Associate Minister of Education: What recent announcements has she made regarding support for playcentres?Hon TRACEY MARTIN (Associate Minister of Education): Minister Hipkins and I were pleased to announce extra funding of $3.1 million over the next four years from Budget 2020. Playcentres are an iconic part of the New Zealand early learning landscape and they have been struggling in recent years to remain sustainable so that they can continue to provide a unique early learning choice to around 9500 children and their families.Rt Hon Winston Peters: For those MPs looking for a new career why is it important that Government support early learning parent-led environments such as playcentre?Hon TRACEY MARTIN: Playcentre as it became known in 1973 had its roots in the progressive educational ideas of the 1930s which placed new emphasis on early childhood and what we now accept as the norm—that children learn through play. But they also support the learning of parents to be better parents and this is their unique value to New Zealand.Rt Hon Winston Peters: To ask the crunch question when was the last time there was a proper increase to playcentre funding rates?Hon TRACEY MARTIN: Playcentre received a cost adjustment in this Government's first two Budgets of 1.6 percent in 2018 and then 1.8 percent in 2019. But aside from cost adjustments the last major increase to playcentre funding rates was in 2006—14 years ago when New Zealand First was part of that Government.
2. Question No. 2—FinanceGREG O'CONNOR (Labour—Ōhāriu) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 2—Finance2. GREG O'CONNOR (Labour—Ōhāriu) to the Minister of Finance: How will Budget 2020 support the actions the Government has already taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): The Government's plan to take on COVID-19 consists of three stages: respond recover and rebuild. Budget 2020 will build on the significant investments we have already made in our initial response to the impacts of COVID-19. The Budget package will complement our existing measures such as the wage subsidy scheme business tax changes the Small Business Cashflow (Loan) Scheme and others that have been designed to fight the virus and cushion the blow on Kiwi workers and businesses. The Budget will be very much a game of two halves: the core cost pressures package to support and maintain strong public services and the continuation of our response to COVID-19. For any more detail than that members will have to wait until tomorrow.Greg O'Connor: What reports has he seen on the Government's small business cash-flow scheme?SPEAKER: Order! I'm trying to—I suppose it's a prior measure. Away you go. Answer the question.Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Sorry Mr Speaker. Yes I've seen the latest report from Inland Revenue providing statistics for the first 36 hours that the scheme has been open for applications. In that time we have received 21000 applications representing 10 applications every minute; 16700 of these have already been approved representing $280 million in lending. This money will be in these businesses' bank accounts within the next five days. We are committed to sharing the burden of the impacts of COVID-19. This scheme is helping support small to medium sized enterprises' immediate cash-flow needs and to meet fixed costs.Greg O'Connor: How will Budget 2020 support the next stages of the Government's plan to tackle COVID-19?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Budget 2020 will set our direction for the next stages of responding and rebuilding but COVID-19 requires more of us than that. The world is still learning about what the impacts of COVID-19 will be and its impact is only just beginning to be felt in our economy. We will continue to work carefully through our next steps. That's why our economic response to COVID-19 has to happen every day not just on Budget day. Just as businesses and workers are fighting every day to secure their futures so we will keep fighting to protect lives and livelihoods every day supporting New Zealanders to get through and to rebuild stronger and better.
Immigration (COVID-19 Response) Amendment Bill — Third Reading
Woodhouse Michael; Mallard TrevorHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National): Just a very brief call because I did want to acknowledge the officials that supported us. Before I do though I wanted to just make the point that the number of times the Minister moving the third reading the Hon Chris Hipkins used the words power" or "powers" I think makes the point that I was making in the committee of the whole House. I do apologise if I have left people having used that Marvel Comics "power for good" analogy with this mental image of Iain Lees-Galloway jumping into a phone booth and coming out with a red cape and undies because that's an image I won't get out of my head. The "power for good" actually came from one of the policy managers Christine Hyndman who I had the privilege of working with for five years as Minister of Immigration. I just want to thank her and her team and also Fraser Richards. I don't think there is anybody in the country who knows immigration law better than Fraser Richards. Many know bits of it but he knows a lot. I just want to acknowledge them—the work that they did—and the whole team and also again the clerks James and Jo who did a fantastic job supporting the committee through that process. I commend it.Bill read a third time.SPEAKER: I understand there's an agreement that the House adjourn now.The House adjourned at 6.01 p.m."
Smith StuartSTUART SMITH (National—Kaikōura): That's all right Mr Speaker—I know the position well. It is a great pleasure to speak on this bill and I'd like to begin as we didn't have a second reading for a moment and refer to the select committee process. We do really have to acknowledge the submitters who took the time under quite tight time constraints to get their submissions in. They were fulsome submissions and those that appeared before the Epidemic Response Committee did so with aplomb and they raised some very serious concerns that they had with the bill. Due to those concerns I believe the bill is in a much better position than it was when it went in to select committee. So it was all of the concerns that were outlined by my colleague Mr Woodhouse. I won't go over them again but they were something that we spent quite a bit of time really grilling the officials over to make sure that we weren't making a serious error in the bill and I'm comfortable we got to a very good position.There were some things that were raised by the business sector particularly Horticulture New Zealand and New Zealand Winegrowers that while they really did capture our imaginations as to the issues that are being faced by those industries weren't included and we didn't change anything in the bill because it was outside the scope of the bill. But it was acknowledged by the officials and I'm sure that the Minister of Immigration will be very much aware that there are so many people here that are trapped in New Zealand effectively who have a visa and with the current rules are unable to change from one employer to another and a job description. They can change from one employer to another employer to do the same job but they can't change from one employer to do a different type of job. Particularly in the wine industry and horticulture—I'll use the wine industry as an example people that have come out from overseas to work in the vintage those skilled winemakers and cellar hands. There is no longer a need for those jobs as the harvest is over but there is a shortage of people to prune the vineyards and there are jobs going begging there at the moment. Those people are sitting in Marlborough unable to work and unable in some cases to support themselves. That was heard by the officials it was heard by the select committee but it's not to be part of the bill and that is something that the Minister will have the power under these special directions to address in his role as Minister. I implore him to do so because there are some serious issues there.The migrant community is very concerned about their plight at the moment and on a human level we can all understand that. We're all in this position not because of our choosing and we have to react to it in the best way that we can. I for one think if we were Ministers in the Government's position we'd have probably done the same thing as to where we are today. It's about how we get to this—[Interruption] For this particular bill I'm talking about. So in that case we have shaped it I think into the best shape that we can and it's with that I commend the bill to the House.
Immigration (COVID-19 Response) Amendment Bill — In Committee
Hipkins Chris; Rurawhe AdrianIn CommitteeHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): I seek leave for all of the provisions in the bill to be debated as one question.CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Leave has been sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There appears to be none.
Immigration (COVID-19 Response) Amendment Bill — Second Reading
Hipkins Chris; Rurawhe AdrianIMMIGRATION (COVID-19 RESPONSE) AMENDMENT BILLSecond ReadingHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House) on behalf of the Minister of Immigration: I move That the Immigration (COVID-19 Response) Amendment Bill be now read a second time. Bill read a second time.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe): The bill is set down for committee stage immediately. And I'm going to wait for another presiding officer to come along so bear with us—unless I can put myself into committee.
Business of the House (continued)
Hipkins ChrisBUSINESS OF THE HOUSEHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): Following discussions across the House I seek leave for there to be no debate on the second reading of the Immigration (COVID-19 Response) Amendment Bill and for the House to adjourn for the evening at the conclusion of the third reading of this bill including if that extends the House's sitting slightly into the dinner break. This will allow for there to be a brief committee stage so that amendments can be considered and for there to be a full debate on the third reading for members who wish to make a contribution to do that but then for the House to avoid potentially breaking at 6 o'clock and coming back for only a few minutes at 7.30.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe): Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There is none.
Hipkins ChrisHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): When I moved the beginning of the third reading for this bill I of course moved the original bill but not the divided bill. So therefore I seek leave to amend that motion to be I move That the COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Bill and the COVID-19 Response (Requirements for Entities—Modifications and Exemptions) Bill be now read a third time.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe): Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There appears to be none.Bills read a third time.
COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Bill and COVID-19 Response (Requirements For Entities—Modifications and Exemptions) Bill — Third Readings
Sage Eugenie; Rurawhe AdrianHon EUGENIE SAGE (Minister of Conservation): Kia ora koutou Mr Speaker. The Green Party is as has been previously indicated in earlier debates pleased to support the COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Bill and I like other speakers will be very brief.I think when the Parliament comes together as it did after the Christchurch earthquakes the Hurunui/Kaikōura earthquakes and now in the COVID situation to look at what are the sensible issues that have to be dealt with in a common-sense way there is unity across the Parliament. I am grateful to the enormous effort that is being put in by public servants in all manner of departments coming together in the all-of-Government response and then looking through the legislation working out what are the obstacles when people are working remotely what can be changed so that it makes normal practices able to continue things like health practitioners enabling people to come back from retirement to be able to practise again to assist our health work force—all sorts of changes. I think it's 45 different pieces of legislation that are being amended here. The changes are relatively small in scale but they allow for things to work more effectively as we move now to focusing on the economic reset and recovery. So I commend the bill to the House.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe): Sorry members I understand we've got a potential issue with the motion that was put. We're just trying to sort that out.
SpeechHon SHANE JONES (Minister of Forestry): E tū tautoko tēnei. I stand also to support the passage of the bill. I acknowledge the efforts across the House and the various industrious officials. During an earlier speech I made the point that this is an extraordinary situation where we are definitely changing the principles that ordinarily guide directorial behaviour. We've had strong entreaties that the governance bodies of many of our enterprises need some protection but also they need to exercise a tremendous amount of judgment so we don't inherit a situation that they end up facing charges of recklessness. We want to see the economy recover. The economy has the basis I think to cure itself with appropriate intervention and support from the political estate. This bill is reflective of us all being joined together to ensure that we can aid the cause post-COVID of people rejuvenating strengthening and getting our enterprises fit for the post-COVID environment. We support the bill.
SpeechBRETT HUDSON (National): Thank you Mr Speaker. I too rise in support of this bill and add my acknowledgment to all of the officials including the officials of the Office of the Clerk. The way I would characterise those meetings in the way they're run is those officials were like ducks on a pond: they looked very calm and collected and able to give all the advice we needed but clearly there was a whole lot of work going on in the background that we didn't see.In my second reading speech I said—particularly around the safe harbour provisions but they apply to all the Insolvency Act and Company Act pieces—that the maxim is: first do no harm. What I've realised is that actually there was an implicit addition in that it's actually: first do no further harm because without doubt COVID-19 and the lockdown have caused damage to businesses the loss of jobs and the predictions are that far worse is still to come. So first do no further harm.I remain convinced that the work that we've done on that has delivered that but equally as I said in my second reading speech and the question I asked in the committee of the whole there's been some necessary tension introduced because there were certain things we realised we had to do which could undermine to some extent the successful scale of the adoption of safe harbour and business debt hibernation in particular but like colleagues across the House I really do hope that businesses and directors that are able to take these measures up do. It will help to save businesses and save jobs and I commend this bill to the House.
Faafoi KrisHon KRIS FAAFOI (Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs): Mr Speaker just a very short speech to back up the two speeches that have already been made in this third reading. I think it's Grant Robertson who said an hour is a day a day is a week and a week is a year in the current times that we're in and again I just want to thank all parts of the operation that allowed this piece of legislation to get to the point where we're at third reading today. As Mr Woodhouse said it's by the power of Zoom that we're able to do this swift and effective work under current conditions and if I think back to late March and early April in a very small office at my place and thinking that we'd have to change this legislation or get through the policy process very quickly and then get the legislation passed within a week I was a little bit exercised about how we were going to do that. But with the cooperation of the House the Epidemic Response Committee the Leader of the House and officials we've managed to get here. So can I thank Parliament for that because I think it will give a great sense of peace of mind for a lot of directors of companies who are facing very difficult times over the next six months. So with that I thank the House for getting this third reading through.
Woodhouse MichaelHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National): Thank you Mr Speaker. Just a short intervention to endorse the comments of the Minister responsible for this bill particularly his mention that you know this was an enormous task but it's one that we're up to. I'm pleased to be able to move from where I was yesterday from commendation to condemnation but back to commendation for the Government actually but also for those officials that work so hard—Hon Member: We live in interesting times.Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: —for us. We certainly do live in interesting times. I feel like I'm two people at the moment: one the tub-thumping right-winger and the other the very reasonable centrist that I usually portray myself as.I want to support Mr Faafoi's comments about in particular the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment officials. They all work tremendously hard. But I think the most complicated part of this process was in the safe harbour and debt hibernation framework. I really hope it works—I really do—because we've got an enormous task to maintain and rebuild our economy over the next days weeks and months. The Government's done what it can I think to enable that to occur but I would encourage it to be nimble to continue to find ways to assist the recovery. I do believe that at least the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and his business colleagues will have that in mind as they go forward.The last thing that I want to say is actually there are a couple of officials that we haven't specifically mentioned and that is from the Office of the Clerk. James and Jo did an amazing job actually bringing all of this together and we see Zoom as a kind of a pretty easy thing that you click and play but I can imagine there's a great deal more going on behind the scenes particularly in the liaising with officials and witnesses and submitters. I think it should be noted that the Office of the Clerk through this period has done a tremendous job.With that I'm very pleased to support this bill.