edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
Graham Kennedy: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeGraham Kennedy: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 14 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7201. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]7.Dr KENNEDY GRAHAM (Green) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement “That’s really a matter for them” when asked whether he was concerned about any of the United Nations Permanent Five members bombing Syria without a UN mandate?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister): Yes. I will not speak for any of the member States involved. They have themselves put forward their own reasons for their actions and the grounds that they are relying on under international law.Dr Kennedy Graham: Given that nobody is asking the Prime Minister to speak for other States how can he none the less reconcile his statement with New Zealand’s commitment as a member of the UN Security Council to uphold the United Nations Charter?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Because in relation to the question that the member asked me yesterday and was part of the primary question today the member States in question do believe they are observing the United Nations Charter.Dr Kennedy Graham: Is abrogating responsibility on serious issues such as aggression without a UN mandate the kind of leadership he was talking about when campaigning for a seat on the United Nations Security Council?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: We are not as I said before and the member needs to listen carefully. Those member States have quite publicly stated that they believe their actions are consistent with the United Nations Charter. The member should know that.Dr Kennedy Graham: How can the Prime Minister say he is showing leadership in the face of a refugee crisis out of Syria when he will not increase the refugee quota takes a minimal emergency intake and when under his watch New Zealand has dropped from 83rd to 90th per capita in terms of refugee intake?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Because we are.
Fox Marama: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeFox Marama: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 14 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7196. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]2.MARAMA FOX (Co-Leader—Māori Party) to the Prime Minister: Is he concerned about the alleged human rights abuses being perpetrated on detainees in offshore processing centres in Australia; if so what does he intend to do to seek assurances from Malcolm Turnbull that the human rights of New Zealanders who are currently detained on Christmas Island are maintained and upheld?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister): If the member is referring to New Zealanders being held in immigration detention centres of which Christmas Island is one yes I do intend to raise this with Mr Turnbull later this week. I can assure the member that if any New Zealander alleges that human rights abuses are taking place against them in an Australian detention centre they should raise those issues with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and consular staff will look into it.Marama Fox: Given that Australia has just passed legislation that effectively gags all staff including medical personnel from talking to the media about the conditions inside those offshore processing centres what assurances can the Prime Minister give whānau of New Zealand citizens that their family members are free from harm and abuse?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: An absolute assurance that if they take those matters up with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade staff then consular assistance will be provided.Marama Fox: Will the Prime Minister apply pressure to Malcolm Turnbull and the Australian Government to ensure that New Zealand detainees are freed to their homes as per the conditions of their parole which have previously been determined by the Australian courts to await their possible deportation there?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I have already made it publicly clear that I do not think sending New Zealanders to detention centres is our preferred option although I will say it is a very longstanding practice of Australia to send people there. The issue here is that because of the policy change announced late last year there is a great many more of them.Hon Nanaia Mahuta: Does he believe that New Zealand citizens who have served their sentences being held in detention on Christmas Island having their visas removed and reportedly being treated badly reinforces the special relationship between Australia and New Zealand or did Tony Abbott simply ignore his representation on the matter?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I do not have all of those details but as I have said it is a matter for anyone to raise that matter with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade staff and it will be looked at. There is also a system in place in Australia to investigate any complaints.
Points of Order — Leave for Introduction and First Reading—International Transparent Treaties BillText is incorporated into the Bound VolumePoints of Order — Leave for Introduction and First Reading—International Transparent Treaties Bill[Sitting date: 14 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7222. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Points of OrderLeave for Introduction and First Reading—International Transparent Treaties BillFLETCHER TABUTEAU (NZ First): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Given the High Court ruling on Mr Groser’s Official Information Act stance and the fact that we have not signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership yet I seek leave for the International Transparent Treaties Bill to be set down for first reading forthwith.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): Is there any objection to the proposal? There is objection. Leave is not agreed to.
Vote: Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeVote: Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7184. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]A party vote was called for on the question That the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill be now read a first time.Ayes 107New Zealand National 59; New Zealand Labour 32; New Zealand First 12; Māori Party 2; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1.Noes 13Green Party 13.Bill read a first time.
Vote: Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeVote: Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7142. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]A party vote was called for on the question That “15 February 2016” be replaced with “18 April 2016”.Ayes 58New Zealand Labour 32; Green Party 14; New Zealand First 12.Noes 63New Zealand National 59; Māori Party 2; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1.Amendment not agreed to.Motion agreed to.
Vote: Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeVote: Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7141. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]A party vote was called for on the question That the Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill be now read a first time.Ayes 62New Zealand National 59; Māori Party 2; ACT New Zealand 1.Noes 59New Zealand Labour 32; Green Party 14; New Zealand First 12; United Future 1.Bill read a first time.Bill referred to the Local Government and Environment Committee.
Shaw James: Standards and Accreditation Bill — Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeShaw James: Standards and Accreditation Bill — Third Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7192. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green): I do Mr Assistant Speaker. I was not actually anticipating rising so early. I mean my friend over there Brett Hudson was in such full flight—such poetry about this most poetic of subjects—that I was actually anticipating his going on for quite some time and I was not really prepared to rise to join with the other Opposition parties to oppose the bill.We also supported the bill’s referral to the Commerce Committee and that was because we acknowledge that the current system is not fit for purpose. The Standards Act dates back to 1988 and the Testing Laboratory Registration Act to 1972. We completely recognise that funding is a real problem and that the current system is not able to deal with the volume of demand for new standards and revisions of standards or as Melissa Lee said to deal with the growing integration with our international trading partners and the need for international standards as well.Debate interrupted.
Tisch Lindsay: Standards and Accreditation Bill — Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeTisch Lindsay: Standards and Accreditation Bill — Third Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7192. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch): Does the member want a call?James Shaw: Yes please Mr Assistant Speaker.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch): I call James Shaw if you want the call.
Browning Steffan: Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBrowning Steffan: Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7184. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]STEFFAN BROWNING (Green): Sorry there was a mistake on my part. We are in favour of it going to the select committee.Bill referred to the Primary Production Committee.
Tisch Lindsay: Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeTisch Lindsay: Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7184. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch): The question is that the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill be considered by the Primary Production Committee. Those of that opinion will say Aye to the contrary No. The Ayes have it.Steffan Browning: Party vote called for.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch): Are you calling for a party vote?Steffan Browning: Yes Mr Assistant Speaker.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch): Did you vote against it? You need to call out that you are voting against it because I did not hear that. A party vote has been called for. I will ask the Clerk to conduct a party vote.
Hudson Brett: Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeHudson Brett: Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7181. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]BRETT HUDSON (National): It is a pleasure to rise in support of the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill in its first reading. This is a Government that understands and appreciates the value of innovation to help to make us more successful particularly on the world stage. We are a food-producing nation. Our primary sector needs access to the latest innovations and the latest chemical herbicides and other innovations to help manage pests to increase productivity and to improve the health of our farm animals if we wish to retain our place on the world stage and even grow our share of feeding the world.I am sure it has not escaped the attention of members of this House that only just very recently we concluded negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. It is an agreement that once fully implemented will unlock 800 million customers—800 million customers across 11 nations—The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch): Order!BRETT HUDSON: —to our food producers. What Government would want to open up world markets of that scale to our producers only to hobble them by not giving them the extent of access to the latest innovations particularly in the areas we are looking at here in things such as herbicides to make sure that we can maximise our productivity and be the best food producers we can be?This is a debate that before it reached the House has been had between both sides of the industry—suppliers and users. They both agree that something needs to be done to ensure that our farms can gain access to the latest innovation. They support our doing this. It is a very very sensible measure. I am pleased that it has got broad support across the House and I commend this bill to the House.
Tisch Lindsay: Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeTisch Lindsay: Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7180. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch): I call Poto Williams—5 minutes.
Tisch Lindsay: Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeTisch Lindsay: Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7179. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch): The next call is a split call—Eugenie Sage 5 minutes.
Barclay Todd: Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBarclay Todd: Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7178. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]TODD BARCLAY (National—Clutha-Southland): It is an honour to speak in support of the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill at its first reading. I would just like to acknowledge the Associate Minister for Primary Industries the Hon Jo Goodhew for putting this bill before the House and hopefully shepherding it the full way through the process. I would like to acknowledge those parties that have already offered their support.It is unfortunate and disappointing that the Greens are not going to support this; however it is not unsurprising. I would just like to point out that this is not one of the many conspiracies that the Greens seem to think exist within this Government. We are a Government that is trying to make tangible legislative benefits for regional New Zealand and here is a perfect example of that.With regard to the innovative chemicals that are being produced we have heard through extensive consultation on both sides of the industry that both the suppliers and the users of these products are concerned that the current data protection levels are insufficient and that that is inhibiting the registration of the latest technologies. We feel as a Government that our industries in provincial New Zealand and our farmers and all those who benefit from the agricultural sector would be heavily disadvantaged if we did not take a move to act in support of these issues that are concerning to the members of the industry.The Government review found that evidence of current protection levels in the fact that they may not be incentivising registration of these products here in New Zealand. We feel that puts our producers and our farmers at a disadvantage. That is why we wanted to put this bill before the House.So in the interests of ensuring that this piece of legislation gets shepherded through as quickly as possible I will end my contribution there. I would just like to reiterate one more time my support for this bill on behalf of the producers in Southland South Otago and North Otago who will benefit greatly from this. Thank you.
Smith Stuart: Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSmith Stuart: Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7174. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]STUART SMITH (National—Kaikōura): It is a pleasure to speak on the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill. This bill amends the Act of the same name which currently protects confidential information made in support of an application for an innovative trade name registration for 5 years after the application is decided. The bill extends the period by 1 year for new uses or reformulations subsequently added to the registration for up to a maximum of 8 years. The bill strikes a balance between incentivising the registration of products that meet the primary sector’s needs and encouraging competition.I am going to give a couple of examples in a minute but I think that one of the underlying things we have to understand in New Zealand is that we have a very small market and we often have unique needs and uses required here for agricultural compounds and veterinary medicines. If we do not have an ability to incentivise that investment to get products registered for new uses or reformulations then they simply will not happen. An example is Pinus contorta or wandering pine or wilding pine—depending on what school you went to.This is a serious environmental weed and it affects 1.7 million hectares in New Zealand which is estimated to cost $1.2 billion to the economy. Currently the way that that weed is dealt with is by cutting and poisoning with glyphosate which is a very labour-intensive exercise whereas it is well known that 24-D is very effective on this weed but it does not have a registration so it cannot be used.The cost of getting that formulation registered for that particular use is quite high and no chemical company has been prepared to step up and do that because it will spend the money and other companies can use that particular formulation and benefit from its investment.That is a very good example of one of the formulations that would be of great benefit or a beneficiary from this particular bill. There are others in medicines and so on but I believe that I have made my point. I think that the bill is an excellent bill I am very happy to commend it to the House and I am looking forward to hearing other people get in behind this bill. Thank you.
Borrows Chester: Taxation (Transformation: First Phase Simplification and Other Measures) Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBorrows Chester: Taxation (Transformation: First Phase Simplification and Other Measures) Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7174. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: It is not that funny I do not think.Bill read a first time.Bill referred to the Finance and Expenditure Committee.
Scott Alastair: Taxation (Transformation: First Phase Simplification and Other Measures) Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeScott Alastair: Taxation (Transformation: First Phase Simplification and Other Measures) Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7173. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]ALASTAIR SCOTT (National—Wairarapa): This is another piece of legislation—another piece of good legislation—that supports small businesses. We know on this side of the House that supporting small businesses is the key to the success of the economy. It is the key to increasing incomes. It is why we have high worker participation rates. It is partly why we have created 190000 new jobs in the economy. This bill supports small businesses by making it easier for them to be compliant. It brings us into the 21st century. It uses technology to communicate. It talks about sharing information to make customers’ lives easier and it helps superannuitants comply with their obligations by providing some special tax codes for them.We are the party of small business. We are the party that supports small business unlike the Opposition. Although those members suggest and think they are the proof is in the pudding. They still do not know whether they support the 90-day trial period for example. They still do not know. Some of them do support it and others do not. Another example of the proof being in the pudding is the Trans-Pacific Partnership. We are unequivocally supporting the Trans-Pacific Partnership.Iain Lees-Galloway: Talk about the bill.ALASTAIR SCOTT: I am talking about small businesses and the legislation that we put through to support small businesses. The Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement is key to supporting the economy. It is key to supporting small businesses. Thank you. [Interruption]
Sepuloni Carmel: Taxation (Transformation: First Phase Simplification and Other Measures) Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSepuloni Carmel: Taxation (Transformation: First Phase Simplification and Other Measures) Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7173. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]CARMEL SEPULONI (Labour—Kelston): I am standing to support this bill the Taxation (Transformation: First Phase Simplification and Other Measures) Bill to select committee. We support simplifying and improving the settings for the administration of the tax system. The areas that this bill looks at focusing on simplifying are useful ones: communication and process electronic signatures employee share schemes releasing information and KiwiSaver membership. We will be examining the bill closely at select committee to see whether it genuinely simplifies these provisions rather than adding additional complication and I guess that where the real analysis needs to take place is at select committee because the rhetoric is great but we need to make sure that it actually does simplify.However we think that there are larger issues that the Government should be focusing on around making tax more flexible and dealing with provisional tax. Business people know their businesses better than the Inland Revenue Department so Labour wants to let business owners tailor their tax payments to fix their cash flows. Under Labour’s proposal businesses will have the option of choosing to pay their tax through regular instalments at a rate they can adjust. This means that businesses can align their payments to suit their circumstances. To further help our businesses get ahead our proposal scraps harsh late penalties for provisional tax and raises the level at which provisional tax kicks in from $2500 to $5000.Flexible tax for business is about giving our businesses more control over how they pay tax. That is how we will help them do well grow and create jobs. That is our objective. We will be going to the select committee looking at this bill to see that it does simplify things for these business owners and we will make our assessment at that stage. Thank you very much.
Borrows Chester: Taxation (Transformation: First Phase Simplification and Other Measures) Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBorrows Chester: Taxation (Transformation: First Phase Simplification and Other Measures) Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7171. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: I call Meka Whaitiri—a 5 minute call.
Borrows Chester: Taxation (Transformation: First Phase Simplification and Other Measures) Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBorrows Chester: Taxation (Transformation: First Phase Simplification and Other Measures) Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7170. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: I call Denise Roche in a 5-minute call from the Green Party.
Borrows Chester: Taxation (Transformation: First Phase Simplification and Other Measures) Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBorrows Chester: Taxation (Transformation: First Phase Simplification and Other Measures) Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7162. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: I call David Bennett—no pressure.
Hudson Brett: Home and Community Support (Payment for Travel Between Clients) Settlement Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeHudson Brett: Home and Community Support (Payment for Travel Between Clients) Settlement Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7158. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]BRETT HUDSON (National): It is a pleasure to rise in support of the Home and Community Support (Payment for Travel Between Clients) Settlement Bill in its first reading. I think it has been canvassed or traversed quite well this afternoon as to how this bill has come about. It does or will enact a negotiated settlement between service providers support workers unions the 20 district health boards and the Crown around the issue of payment for time and costs for those workers when they are travelling between clients.I acknowledge as my colleague Mr Bishop pointed out that in the regulatory impact statement officials noted that they had cited at least one legal opinion that suggested that the authority may find that travel between clients was indeed part of the classification of work under the Minimum Wage Act. So I would suggest that rather than having long and protracted court proceedings the parties did come together and negotiated an acceptable outcome—an outcome acceptable to all parties—around the middle of the last year. This legislation will give full effect to that.Importantly around this particular issue—and I am not looking to canvass elements outside the specifics that this bill is addressing—it will give an enduring solution one that is affordable and therefore sustainable to address this issue of travel between clients and the recompense for the time and cost of travel.So what we will see is from 1 July 2015 employees will be paid for the time they spend travelling. From 1 March next year they will be recompensed towards the cost of that travel. That gives certainty around that future and that is balanced in the negotiated settlement with an agreement therefore that those employees will not and cannot pursue wages payable under the Minimum Wage Act 1983 from before the commencement of this bill. I think this is an effective and clearly agreeable outcome for all parties involved and I commend the bill to the House.Bill read a first time.Bill referred to the Health Committee.
Bishop Chris: Home and Community Support (Payment for Travel Between Clients) Settlement Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBishop Chris: Home and Community Support (Payment for Travel Between Clients) Settlement Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7155. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]CHRIS BISHOP (National): It is a pleasure to take a brief call on the Home and Community Support (Payment for Travel Between Clients) Settlement Bill. I am not a member of the Health Committee much to my chagrin but I know that my colleagues on the committee will do a good job of considering this important piece of legislation.I want to commend the comments made by my colleague and friend Stuart Smith about the important work that home and community support service workers do in our community. I have been reading the regulatory impact statement which notes that every day 40000 people in this sector provide support in our community and they do a sterling job.The background to this piece of legislation is an interesting one and it is neatly contained in the preamble to the bill that is before the House. Of course the background to the bill is that proceedings were filed by the Public Service Association in the Employment Relations Authority. The question in a legal sense turns on whether or not travelling between appointments is work for the purposes of the Minimum Wage Act.It is interesting to read the regulatory impact statement prepared by the Ministry of Health because it notes that that is actually a reasonable point. There is actually a reasonable chance of success. The regulatory impact statement notes that “Independent legal advice indicated that there is a good argument that in-between travel time constitutes ‘work’ under the Act and a test case has a reasonable prospect of success.” Of course if that was the case “then providers would be liable to pay their home-care workers at at least the minimum wage rate for their in-between travel time and potentially six years of backpay” which of course as the regulatory impact statement notes “was the case in the IDEA Services Limited v Dickson” which is the sleepovers case that people will be aware of. “However providers have expressed concern that they cannot sustain such an outcome as it would be difficult to remain viable if they had to fund or part-fund in-between travel time. That could have a negative impact on the delivery of health-funded HCSS.”We find this legislation before the House as the result of negotiations begun in April 2014 and a settlement reached between certain unions the district health boards and the Crown in August 2015. The legislation is required to give effect to that settlement. The aim of the legislation is to provide for an enduring affordable and sustainable solution.I know that my colleagues on the Health Committee will be looking forward to the submissions as to whether or not this legislation will in fact give effect to the aims that I think all parties around the Parliament are looking for. With those brief remarks I commend this bill to the House.
Smith Stuart: Home and Community Support (Payment for Travel Between Clients) Settlement Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSmith Stuart: Home and Community Support (Payment for Travel Between Clients) Settlement Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7152. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]STUART SMITH (National—Kaikōura): It is a pleasure to speak on this Home and Community Support (Payment for Travel Between Clients) Settlement Bill. I want to bring a personal aspect to this in a minute or two but I think it is quite important to say that the purpose of this bill is actually a result of an agreement between the parties being the district health boards the home support and community-based care services and their community-based care employees. There are some 24000 employees as we have heard before which is a significant number of people who are involved in this very necessary area.My wife’s grandmother—our children’s great-grandmother—was in care in her own home and it was very important to her to remain in her home as long as possible. I really did not have much understanding of what was involved in home care at all until I witnessed that and it was actually during the election campaign last year. When I was doorknocking in Blenheim I went to Julie’s grandmother every day for lunch. This lady grew up in a household with a photo of Michael Joseph Savage on the wall so you can imagine it was quite a leap for her to have a National candidate having lunch with her every day. It was phenomenal.To come back to the bill though. To witness on a daily basis the home carers coming in and to see how they bring great pleasure to those people remaining in their home and give them the necessary care that they need—what really struck me about the whole thing was not just the skills involved in what they did but the enjoyment they got out of providing that care to those people. I think that is something that I certainly had not really appreciated until I witnessed it as I said on a daily basis. Unfortunately she is no longer with us but those people are out there doing this on a daily basis for other people.We have an ageing population. We are going to have more people who will require these kinds of services and it is incumbent upon us to actually have a workforce that can keep people in their homes should they desire to stay there for as long as possible. We need to provide a career pathway and that means remunerating those people to the level they deserve for the services they are providing and this bill goes a long way towards that. There is a transitional phase then it moves into an ongoing and permanent phase and I think that is really to be lauded. So it is with great pleasure that I commend this bill to the House. Thank you.
Tisch Lindsay: Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeTisch Lindsay: Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7142. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch): Dr Megan Woods has moved an amendment to the motion replacing “15 February 2016” with “18 April 2016”.
Smith Nick: Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSmith Nick: Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7142. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for the Environment): I move That the Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill be reported to the House by 15 February 2016.
Young Jonathan: Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeYoung Jonathan: Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7141. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth): On this matter of the Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill I am very happy to support this bill and commend it to the House. Thank you.
Doocey Matt: Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeDoocey Matt: Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7138. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]MATT DOOCEY (National—Waimakariri): It is an honour to rise and speak to the Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill in its first reading. It is a bill that I support and I am looking forward to it being passed in its first reading and for it to go to the select committee and to receive submissions in the legislative process.I do want to raise today just four points and I think they are very key points when considering the context of this bill. One is that what people like about this Government is that this Government makes a decision and then acts. We saw that with the earthquakes in Christchurch. There was talk about a lot of social problems coming out of the earthquakes. People were going to leave Christchurch. House prices were going to crash. Jobs were going to be lost. But the Government came in and provided a lot of certainty security and stability. Like with Environment Canterbury which was very dysfunctional the Government came in made a decision and acted—contrast that with the Opposition which makes one decision and does the next whether that be on the flag referendum or the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement—and that is what the public want. That is what the people of Christchurch want. That is what the people of Canterbury want. Like my colleague Nuk Korako said it was the National Party that won the party vote not only in Christchurch or in Canterbury but in the whole of the South Island.I want to acknowledge the work of the Ministers—the Hon Dr Nick Smith and the Hon Louise Upston—who went out with the document for public consultation. They took it around the councils and six out of 10 of them were in support. My electorate Waimakariri is in support. They consulted with Ngāi Tahu who are in support. They got public submissions which have led to the development of this bill.They say there are two positions in politics. One is “It’s time for a change.” and the other is “Don’t put this at risk.” Well this legislation this bill actually combines both. It gives us a change—we move towards a mixed model of governance—but it does not put the gains at risk. As a new MP I am out in my electorate of Waimakariri dealing with the very real environmental issues in Waimakariri. One of them is around water management. The other is around working collaboratively in zoned committees. Environment Canterbury has shown leadership in those over the last few years and it is right that we support it and the people of Canterbury in protecting our environment. So I support this bill and commend it to the House. Thank you.
Tisch Lindsay: Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeTisch Lindsay: Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7137. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch): I call Poto Williams—5 minutes.
Tisch Lindsay: Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeTisch Lindsay: Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7136. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch): The next call is a split call. Jan Logie—5 minutes.
Borrows Chester: Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBorrows Chester: Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7130. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Well that question has been put to the member who has—Hon Annette King: He has not answered it yet.Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Well he has answered it as best as he can he assures me so I will put the leave. Leave is put for that purpose. Is there any objection? There appears to be none.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.
Smith Nick: Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSmith Nick: Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7130. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for the Environment): I seek leave of the House to table the Cabinet paper in which the Government appointed commissioners to the Kaipara District Council contrary to the false claims by the previous speaker.Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Publicly available?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: It is a Cabinet paper.Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Is it available to members of the public?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Cabinet papers are not normally publicly available. They are not on a public—[Interruption]Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question has been answered.Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Cabinet papers are not normally made publicly available and given the inaccuracy that the previous speaker made in his speech I would just like to see the record set straight.Hon Annette King: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. A simple question: is it publicly available now? Has it already been released?
Borrows Chester: Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBorrows Chester: Environment Canterbury (Transitional Governance Arrangements) Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7126. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: I am sorry to interrupt the member but the time for her contribution has expired.
Carter David: Urgent Debates Declined — AgResearch—Disestablishment of Jobs Trans-Pacific Partnership—Conclusion of NegotiationsText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeCarter David: Urgent Debates Declined — AgResearch—Disestablishment of Jobs Trans-Pacific Partnership—Conclusion of Negotiations[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7122. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Mr SPEAKER: I have received a letter from David Clark seeking to debate under Standing Order 389 the announcement about the disestablishment of jobs at the Crown research institute AgResearch. The announcement is a particular case of recent occurrence involving ministerial responsibility. The announcement on 24 September was that AgResearch was consulting on a proposal to disestablish jobs and that the decision on the proposal will be made at the end of October. The announcement of a consultation process on a proposal does not warrant the setting aside of the business of the House. Therefore the application is declined.I have also received a letter from the Leader of the Opposition seeking to debate under Standing Order 389 the Government’s announcement that it has concluded negotiation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. The announcement is a particular case of recent occurrence involving ministerial responsibility. I understand that the text of the agreement is to be released to the public. Before the agreement is ratified it will be subject to the parliamentary treaty examination process set out in Standing Orders 397 to 400. I understand that legislation is also required to give effect to the agreement which will again give opportunity for parliamentary debate. The Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement is a significant agreement which should be debated by this House. There will be opportunity for parliamentary consideration of it in the future with the benefit of the text of the agreement and the national interest analysis. I am not convinced that at this stage the business of the House ought to be set aside to debate the matter.
Logie Jan: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLogie Jan: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7120. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]11.JAN LOGIE (Green) to the Minister for Women: Does she stand by the Prime Minister’s statement on the gender pay gap that “I don’t think it’s discrimination it’s just the occupations they are more typically involved in”?Hon LOUISE UPSTON (Minister for Women): Yes in the context in which it was given.Jan Logie: Could the Minister tell us how this Government will address the underpayment of women-dominated industries such as midwifery rest home work and social work?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: The issues associated with the gender pay gap are complex. The member raises issues around pay equity which as the House is aware is a matter that is before the courts at the moment. So although I am watching the issues carefully I am not able to comment while it is before the courts.Jan Logie: Does the Minister think it is acceptable that due to Government inaction the only recourse women have to address such inequality seems to be through our courts?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: I have said on numerous occasions that the gender pay gap is unacceptable. It is a very complex issue with a range of contributing factors. Some of the measures that the Government has been undertaking include getting more women into high-demand high-growth and highly paid industries such as construction and we have doubled the number in Canterbury in the last 2 years. We are increasing the number of women in leadership. We have made employment legislation to increase paid parental leave we have parental tax credits and most important there is the introduction of the right for every worker to request flexible work. In addition we are directly countering unconscious bias.Jan Logie: Given that the gap between men and women’s median hourly earnings has risen by almost 20 percent in the past year and not one ministry has reducing the gender pay gap as an action point in its statement of intent will the Government put a comprehensive plan in place to reduce the gender pay gap?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: That member will be pleased to know that actually the State Services Commission is leading the work on the public sector pay gap. It is currently decreasing. It is 14.1 percent so it is coming down. But the member will also be pleased to know that the State Services Commission has a particular focus on developing future leaders and has a specific focus around increasing the ability for public sector employees to have increased levels of flexibility which as that member will know is a significant aspect that women require in terms of their being supported in employment.
Ngaro Alfred: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeNgaro Alfred: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7110. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]3.ALFRED NGARO (National) to the Minister of Finance: What reports has he received on the outlook for the world economy and what are the consequences for the New Zealand economy?Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance): The IMF and World Bank meetings in Peru affirm that slowing growth in China and other emerging economies like Brazil is a risk for the world economic outlook. There are also a number of positives including improving growth in the US and the UK. The IMF projects that in 2015 global economic growth will be 3.1 percent—a bit weaker than it thought just 6 months ago. This weaker world growth highlights the importance of continuing to expand our international connections particularly through trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The more markets our exports have access to the more resilient they will be if any particular market runs into economic headwinds.Alfred Ngaro: How is the global decline in commodity prices affecting the New Zealand economy?Hon BILL ENGLISH: Generally there has been a decline in commodity prices across most global economies and of course in New Zealand the impact was through the dairy price. From a high in February 2014 dairy prices fell 65 percent to their low in early August. Since August dairy prices have regained about a third of those falls. It is too early to know whether those increases are permanent but it is pleasing to see some stabilisation. The effect of this has been cushioned by a significant reduction in the exchange rate which is down more than 25 percent against the US dollar since mid-2014 and similar adjustments are occurring in other commodity-type economies such as Australia.Alfred Ngaro: What was the IMF’s view about the growth prospects for New Zealand?Hon BILL ENGLISH: The IMF’s latest set of forecasts was released earlier this month and they had the New Zealand economy growing at 2 to 2.5 percent. The early half of calendar year 2015 now shows fairly soft growth and it is possible that growth could drop below 2 percent for calendar year 2015. That is certainly slower than the 3 percent that Treasury was forecasting last year but in the context of slowing growth around the world it is moderate sustained growth that will continue to deliver more jobs and higher wages for New Zealanders.
Carter David: Points of Order — Leave for Introduction and First Reading—Environment Canterbury (Democracy Restoration) Amendment BillText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeCarter David: Points of Order — Leave for Introduction and First Reading—Environment Canterbury (Democracy Restoration) Amendment Bill[Sitting date: 13 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7107. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] No I do not need any assistance at all. Order! I do not need—[Interruption] Order! I realise it is the first day back and there is a level of enthusiasm amongst members to engage but I am not going to allow a free-for-all with interjections across the floor. Leave was put it was denied and that is the end of the matter.