edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
Woodhouse Michael: Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 2) — First Reading 
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Woodhouse Michael: Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 2) — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 20 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5555. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) 
: 
 I am pleased to take the last call on the Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 2). For probably the last 3½ years as a member of Parliament in Dunedin North not for Dunedin North I say that the one prevailing theme in feedback from students has been this in respect of student allowances: they are available to the very poor and the very rich and that is not fair. I am very pleased that this is the third bill in a tranche of three pieces of legislation that is going to undo some of the distortions that are in our taxation system. We were prided in the 1990 as one of the least distortionary tax systems in the world. Thanks to things like the unintended consequences of loss attributing qualifying companies trusts and a punitive top tax rate we became very distorted such that income-planning strategies that had the impact of reducing the primary earner’s tax obligations also had the impact of qualifying them for Working for Families and student allowances. 
I find it difficult to accept from members like Grant Robertson and Dr David Clark who is in fact I believe Labour’s spokesperson on revenue the statement that this bill is just tinkering with the loan scheme in sensible small steps and then to hear them talk about fairness because this bill is about restoring fairness to the student loan scheme in the same way that we have made the changes to student allowances through the No. 1 bill so that those who are most in need of a student allowance get it and those who are most able to repay a student loan get it. There is no point creating a system of increasing obligations and reducing the access to student allowances for the very well-off if one then gives them a student loan that they do not need to repay because they are sheltering income in other ways. 
Grant Robertson talked about a cost to be cut. Well we on this side of the House certainly see investment in tertiary education as just that but in terms of costs we would certainly make no apology for seeing costs for phantom students cut costs for spurious courses at polytechs cut or costs cut in terms of students who consistently fail their papers or in terms of graduates who fail to meet their repayment obligations because they go overseas and do not keep in contact with the Inland Revenue Department. The fact that we have reduced the non-repayment rate from 48 percent to 39 percent is a very good example of that. We make no apology for cutting the costs involved in managing the 5000 separate qualifications that we found when we came into office. I think those are very important costs. This is a good bill a very good bill and I support it.
Tisch Lindsay: Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Tisch Lindsay: Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 20 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5535. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch) 
: No. I have ruled on this matter. The member will sit. I quoted 42/2. The member when I asked him to withdraw the comment did so. That is the end of the matter and I am calling the Green member Holly Walker.
Ross Jami-Lee: Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 2) — First Reading 
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Ross Jami-Lee: Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 2) — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 20 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5553. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
JAMI-LEE ROSS (National—Botany) 
: 
 This bill the Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 2) is all about continuing to ensure the efficiency and affordability of the student loan scheme. It is a very big scheme—roughly $12 billion with 200000 borrowers every year. Sustainability is the key and that is what this bill helps to achieve. 
Let me give the House a couple of numbers because we keep hearing a lot tonight from the Opposition about student support services: 40 percent and 18 percent. Eighteen percent is the OECD average of funds from the tertiary education budget going into student support services. This country spends 40 percent of its tertiary education budget in student support services. So I just wish to reject the points being made across the other side of the House that we do not have enough funding going into student support services. 
The efficiency of the scheme relies on ensuring that borrowers are paying back their funds. In 2010 we had an important pilot which saw overseas borrowers targeted and sought out to get funds recovered from them. We saw $32 million coming back in repayments from overseas borrowers. This bill helps to ensure that the overseas borrowers are still looked at carefully and that we have good data-matching between the Customs Service and the Inland Revenue Department to ensure that overseas borrowers are fronting up to their obligations as well. With New Zealand based borrowers it is easier for the Inland Revenue Department to ensure that they are repaying in the manner that they should. Overseas borrowers have had some issues. It has been more difficult to match the information. It has been more difficult to ensure they are repaying their loan but this bill helps in that area. 
There are also some smaller administrative changes that are being made but they are also important and should be supported by the House. Some further changes are made and they line up with the Government’s Budget changes that we made announced and enacted indeed several months ago. I commend the bill to the House.
Roy Eric: Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 2) — First Reading 
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Roy Eric: Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 2) — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 20 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5553. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: The next call is a split call with two 5-minute calls. The first is to Louisa Wall.
Lee Melissa: Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 2) — First Reading 
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Lee Melissa: Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 2) — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 20 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5550. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
MELISSA LEE (National) 
: 
 It is a great pleasure to rise to support the Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 2). I am going to make only a very very short contribution saying that one of this Government’s four priorities for this term is building a more competitive and productive economy. It is only by lifting our economic performance that we can create jobs boost incomes improve living standards and provide a world-class Public Service which all Kiwi families actually deserve. 
Our interest-free student loan scheme is one of the most generous in the world and we want to keep it that way. When I went to university I never had this. I was an international student who actually paid through my nose in Australia and then I moved to New Zealand. How I wish and I am sure that my parents wish that we had lived in New Zealand and had the benefit of the student loan scheme. We certainly did not but the bill is a great one and I commend it to the House.
Bakshi Kanwaljit Singh: Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 2) — First Reading 
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Bakshi Kanwaljit Singh: Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 2) — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 20 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5548. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI (National) 
: 
 Thank you for the opportunity to speak on the Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 2). As a country we need to strike the balance between educating our people and ensuring that the student loan scheme remains sustainable. If we do not do so it is fair to claim that the day when the Government will need to pull the plug on interest-free loans will not be far away. 
With the cost of education increasing by the day it is only prudent to act now. We in New Zealand need to ensure to fund our future development that we are reducing the need to borrow. Towards this end this National-led Government is introducing changes to the way student loans are administered. We are working closely with the Inland Revenue Department and the New Zealand Customs Service towards establishing a system that can identify borrowers whose student loan account is in serious default by ensuring the person provides the details of a contact person whom the Inland Revenue Department can make contact with to establish their repayment obligation. This will ensure that all those who have earned their skills and qualifications with the support of New Zealand taxpayers and are now working in professional positions on their OE meet their obligation of repayment to the New Zealand taxpayers. 
The Government is also working towards broadening the definition of income for student loan repayment purposes. The model we intend to use is one currently being used for the Working for Families scheme. 
The changes that the National-led Government has initiated since coming back have resulted in a reduction of the cost to the Government from 48c in the dollar to 39c in the dollar. Our goal was to reach 40c in the dollar; being able to surpass this is a very significant achievement. This is a clear demonstration of how the National-led Government is delivering on the priorities of managing our national finances prudently. Having more money to invest in our education system clearly means that the probability of New Zealand having a skilled workforce in the future increases significantly. 
By introducing this bill we want to focus on achievement as well. As with any other investment the Government wants to ensure that our citizens get value for the money that has been invested. To address this we have introduced performance criteria for the students. This Government is focused on providing those students who really need it with the money so that they can succeed with their studies and once they become an earning member of society are willing to repay what they have borrowed. In realising our goals we want our citizens to understand the meaning of personal responsibility and accountability. I support this bill.
Walker Holly: Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 2) — First Reading 
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Walker Holly: Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 2) — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 20 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5545. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
HOLLY WALKER (Green) 
: 
 For a long time now the Green Party has spoken on bills like this Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 2) to articulate what are fairly fundamental concerns about the student loan scheme per se. Those concerns relate to its fairness to the barriers in access that it creates to tertiary education to the ballooning problem of the $12 billion—and growing—of student debt that we face as a nation and to the impact that that debt will have on future generations including my own generation in terms of our ability to have a strong financial start in life to aspire to homeownership and to provide for our families. Indeed we have also long articulated fundamental concerns about what the student loan scheme does to the desirability of New Zealand as a place to live for young people and as a place to return to for people who have been living overseas. I am sorry to say that this bill although it amends the student loan scheme addresses none of these more fundamental concerns. But worse than that it may actually worsen the current situation in respect of some of these concerns.
Vote: Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Vote: Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 20 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5538. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
A party vote was called for on the question  
That the Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. 
Ayes 69 
New Zealand National 59; New Zealand First 8; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1. 
Noes 50 
New Zealand Labour 34; Green Party 13; Maori Party 2; Mana 1. 
Bill read a first time. 
Bill referred to the Social Services Committee.
Tisch Lindsay: Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Tisch Lindsay: Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 20 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5536. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch) 
: The member used the word “lie”. I have ruled on it. That is the end of the matter. The member withdrew the comment at the time. I am now inviting the Green member Holly Walker to continue.
Mallard Trevor: Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Mallard Trevor: Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 20 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5535. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour—Hutt South) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch) 
: I have ruled on this. The Hon Trevor Mallard I have actually ruled on this. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I would like to refer you to the ruling on Tuesday of this week from the Dr The Rt Hon Lockwood Smith in the Chair during question time where he in fact allowed that comment to be made about a member during question time. Can I complete my comment please? That was consistent with the ruling from Speaker Wilson when Dr The Rt Hon Dr Lockwood Smith himself used that. It has been ruled out as a matter of interjection but not as part of a question or a debate. What you are not allowed to do is to say that someone lied in here. But the ruling has consistently been that people can say especially if there is justification that people lied outside.
O'Connor Damien: Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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O'Connor Damien: Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 20 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5535. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR (Labour—West Coast - Tasman) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I am referring to— 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch) 
: If you are trifling with me then— 
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR 
: I am not trifling. It is an issue that has been raised with me during a speech that I have made and I am seeking clarification because it is the accusation against a member which I accept and the Speaker’s ruling says that it is not appropriate to say that a member lies. But my colleague said that a statement was a lie—
Tisch Lindsay: Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Tisch Lindsay: Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 20 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5535. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch) 
: The member will sit down. Sit down. The member in this debate and he did it earlier on as well used the word “lie”. That is what I pulled him up on and that is why he apologised—no he did not apologise. I asked him to withdraw the comment and he has. We are now moving on. 
Hon Damien O’Connor 
: Point of order— 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch) 
: There is no further discussion on this.
O'Connor Damien: Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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O'Connor Damien: Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 20 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5535. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR (Labour—West Coast - Tasman) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I am seeking clarification. You referred to 42/2. That is not the Speaker’s ruling and I am seeking clarification—
Tisch Lindsay: Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Tisch Lindsay: Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 20 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5535. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch) 
: No. I have ruled on that matter—[ 
Interruption 
] Sit down. [ 
Interruption 
] No sit down. I have ruled on the matter. The member—sit down. The member has withdrawn the comment that he made at the time and we have progressed. That is the end of the matter.
O'Connor Damien: Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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O'Connor Damien: Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 20 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5535. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR (Labour—West Coast - Tasman) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I would just like clarification over a point that you raised—
Tisch Lindsay: Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Tisch Lindsay: Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 20 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5533. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch) 
: I understand the next call is a split call. I will ring the bell at 4 minutes.
Robertson H V Ross: Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Robertson H V Ross: Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 20 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5519. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Just before I call the next member can I advise the House that robust and passionate debate is healthy and to be expected but every time a member uses the expression “you” the member is referring to the Chair and in that case it is me. I would refer members to Speaker’s ruling 27/5(1).
Yang Jian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
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Yang Jian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 20 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5512. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
11. 
Dr JIAN YANG (National) 
 to the  
Associate Minister of Health 
: What recent announcements has she made regarding new initiatives to improve quality and safety in the health sector? 
Hon JO GOODHEW (Associate Minister of Health) 
: 
 Today I announced that the Health Quality and Safety Commission is developing a set of quality and safety markers for the health sector. The markers will track progress in reducing health-care acquired infections surgical harm medication errors and in-patient falls. These are major causes of the serious and sentinel events. A patient safety campaign and regular public reporting against the markers will encourage sector-wide performance improvements. 
Dr Jian Yang 
: How will the patient safety campaign work? 
Hon JO GOODHEW 
: The campaign will reduce the number of patients affected by falls health-care acquired infections surgical harm and medication errors. In fact this campaign will save lives in our health system. This will be achieved by raising awareness and increasing the use by clinicians of internationally proven interventions to help improve patient safety in this area. It will be launched at the beginning of next year and reporting will start from midway through next year.
Ngaro Alfred: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
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Ngaro Alfred: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 20 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5502. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
3. 
ALFRED NGARO (National) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development 
: What announcement has the Government recently made on the Limited Services Volunteer programme? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development) 
: 
 Today the Prime Minister and I announced an initiative that will see more graduates of the Limited Service Volunteer course get work opportunities. We are asking employers to take on motivated young people who have done the Limited Service Volunteer course and are ready to work. The Limited Service Volunteer programme is a free 6-week course held at the Hobsonville Trentham and Burnham military camps for 18 to 25-year-olds who are on benefit. Young people are referred to the Limited Service Volunteer programme by Work and Income and the course is run by the New Zealand Defence Force. Here young people learn respect discipline and teamwork through a programme that focuses on getting them work-ready. 
Alfred Ngaro 
: How can employers offer a young person a job? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: Employers can take on our Limited Service Volunteer graduates and there are employment subsidies available through the Government’s Job Streams initiative which can help. I would encourage employers to get in touch with Work and Income. They can just ring 0800 778 008 and offer those young people a job. Sixty-two percent of those who go through this course do not go back on to benefit. We think we can do better by them for that. 
Alfred Ngaro 
: What results has the Limited Service Volunteer programme seen to date? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: I know that the House has difficulty sometimes with good news for young people but we have had truly encouraging results. For example I know of one manufacturing employer who recently was looking for just one staff member. He interviewed four graduates from the Limited Service Volunteers and he ended up taking two. He then went out of his way to get the other two a job with his mates in businesses around him because he saw that they were motivated young people. The number of young people on the unemployment benefit has gone down by over 10000 by 20 percent in the last year. We are seeing encouraging results and we would like to see more.
Williams Andrew: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
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Williams Andrew: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Sitting date: 19 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5374. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
3. 
ANDREW WILLIAMS (NZ First) 
 to the  
Member in charge of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (Amending Primary Function of Bank) Amendment Bill 
: How will the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (Amending Primary Function of Bank) Amendment Bill help the Reserve Bank pursue a balanced macro-economic policy? 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Member in charge of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (Amending Primary Function of Bank) Amendment Bill) 
: 
 Another very pertinent question. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (Amending Primary Function of Bank) Amendment Bill—[ 
Interruption 
] Well if I represented the rural parts of this country I would take notice about this because it is certainly damaging them right now. The bill would require the Reserve Bank to incorporate into its monetary policy the goal of achieving a stable and competitive exchange rate. The effect of a stable and competitive exchange rate would be a more productive export sector which would increase national income and get more New Zealanders into real work. 
Andrew Williams 
: What is the outlook for New Zealand without a balanced macroeconomic policy? 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: This is a great question. The answer is more of the same—more of the same—only worse: hundreds of manufacturing jobs being lost each week; more manufacturing closures; cutbacks and relocations offshore; more farmers sliding into economic difficulty where one in five is currently now; well over 50000 New Zealanders going now every year to Australia; a worsening balance of payments crisis as evidenced today as evidenced this very day by the current account deficit reaching 4.9 percent and heading towards 7 percent— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! [ 
Interruption 
] Order! I think the answer has been of sufficient length. 
Brendan Horan 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I move that the House burst into spontaneous applause for this bill which will save our— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! [ 
Interruption 
] Order! That is not assisting with the good order of the House.
Peters Winston: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
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Peters Winston: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Sitting date: 19 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5373. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
2. 
ANDREW WILLIAMS (NZ First) 
 to the  
Member in charge of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (Amending Primary Function of Bank) Amendment Bill 
: What is the intention of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (Amending Primary Function of Bank) Amendment Bill? 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Member in charge of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (Amending Primary Function of Bank) Amendment Bill) 
: 
 The intention of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (Amending Primary Function of Bank) Amendment Bill is to amend section 8 of the principal Act to give the Reserve Bank a broader ambit when implementing monetary policy. The bill would mean that the Reserve Bank would have to consider a much wider range of counter-inflationary measures which about 50 other economies are doing I might add as well as supplementary tools for managing the exchange rate. 
Andrew Williams 
: What additional tools could the Reserve Bank use? 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: That is an excellent question. Such tools would include tightening capital controls which would reduce the inflow of so-called “hot” money and lead to a depreciation of the exchange rate. Another option is the introduction of a cap on the New Zealand dollar which would require the Reserve Bank to sell New Zealand dollars and purchase foreign assets when the dollar reaches a certain threshold which it is now well past and is damaging the New Zealand export sector.
Williams Andrew: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
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Williams Andrew: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Sitting date: 19 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5373. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
1. 
ANDREW WILLIAMS (NZ First) 
 to the  
Chairperson of the Local Government and Environment Committee 
: When will the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill be reported back to the House and approximately how many written submissions have been received on the Bill? 
NICKY WAGNER (Chairperson of the Local Government and Environment Committee) 
: 
 The bill is due to be reported to the House on 5 November 2012. The deadline for submissions was 26 July 2012 and the committee has received 667 written submissions on the bill. That figure includes supplementary submissions. 
Andrew Williams 
: What has been the general consensus— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. There was an unfortunate comment from I think the chair or certainly through the chair’s mike which was that you should know because you are on the committee. Mr Speaker that is clearly not the case. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! This is not helping the good order of the House. I did not hear. The member gave I think a comprehensive answer to the question asked and I think we should proceed. 
Andrew Williams 
: What has been the general consensus of most submissions by local authorities and Local Government New Zealand? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! The member is now asking about the nature of submissions. That is a matter for the committee. The member may now go on to question No. 2.
Fenton Darien: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
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Fenton Darien: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Sitting date: 19 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5371. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
11. 
DARIEN FENTON (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Labour 
: How have employment law changes relating to the minimum wage and 90-day trial implemented by the Government improved the working lives of New Zealand women? 
Hon KATE WILKINSON (Minister of Labour) 
: 
 This Government is focused on creating labour market and economic conditions that help create more jobs and higher wages for all New Zealanders including women. The member should really be aware however that we have not made any changes to the minimum wage legislation. However we have increased the minimum wage each year at a sustainable and responsible rate to ensure that purchasing power is retained without throwing jobs on the scrap heap. In terms of the 90-day trials research by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research has previously told us that 90-day trials led to 13000 new jobs in small and medium sized businesses. Many of these 13000 will of course be filled by women. New data now confirms that extending 90-day trials to all businesses has been a great success and is especially beneficial for young people and the long-term unemployed including women. 
Darien Fenton 
: If as she claims her 90-day trial period has been so successful why are there now 26000 more women unemployed than when the policy began and why cannot she find any real women to talk about it and support it? 
Hon KATE WILKINSON 
: I know of a lot of real women who can actually sing the praises of the 90-day trial period. But can I just correct the member. There were actually 3000 more women in employment in the June 2012 quarter than in the previous quarter. That is more women not fewer. 
Darien Fenton 
: Does she agree that the working lives of the 60 percent of working women who rely on the minimum wage will be improved with a $15 minimum wage or is she determined to keep women in their place in low-paying jobs in the service sector? 
Hon KATE WILKINSON 
: I do not think anybody is suggesting that life on the minimum wage is that easy and these are difficult economic times. But actually on official figures in our advice if we immediately jumped to Labour’s $15-per-hour policy that would see up to 3350 women lose their jobs—thrown out of a job on the dole. That is not a good look on Suffrage Day. 
Darien Fenton 
: How will her plans to make it harder to settle collective agreements and to allow employers to pay new workers less than the collective agreement on a job improve the working lives of women or is the plan really about driving wages even lower? 
Hon KATE WILKINSON 
: In answer to the second part of that question to be succinct no.
McClay Todd: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
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McClay Todd: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Sitting date: 19 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5372. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
12. 
TODD McCLAY (National—Rotorua) 
 to the  
Minister of Revenue 
: What progress has the Government made towards making retirement savings portable between New Zealand and Australia? 
Hon PETER DUNNE (Minister of Revenue) 
: 
 There has been very good progress towards implementing a trans-Tasman retirement savings portability scheme which strongly reflects our aim of achieving a seamless trans-Tasman economic environment. New Zealand passed legislation implementing savings portability in 2010 and yesterday the Australian Government released its draft legislation for savings portability which would mark the near completion of the necessary legislative steps so that portability can go live in 2013. Under that scheme New Zealanders will be able to transfer savings between approved Australian superannuation funds and their KiwiSaver accounts. That will be particularly good news for KiwiSavers because it makes it easier for Kiwis returning home from Australia to bring their retirement savings with them. 
Todd McClay 
: What benefits will retirement savings portability bring to KiwiSavers? 
Hon PETER DUNNE 
: As I said it is important as part of helping the free movement of people between Australia and New Zealand. It removes a barrier to New Zealanders returning home. It enables them to consolidate their financial affairs in New Zealand and that in turn will bring down the cost of managing a number of the retirement funds and so increase the amount they have got available to draw upon in their retirement. The Australian Taxation Office has noted that the amount of lost accounts in the Australian superannuation system is presently about $16.6 billion. Much of that money could belong to New Zealanders who have returned home and the new portability rules will enable those funds to be recovered brought back to New Zealand and consolidated into people’s own KiwiSaver accounts here. 
Todd McClay 
: How will retirement savings portability strengthen economic ties between Australia and New Zealand? 
Hon PETER DUNNE 
: It is part of the range of moves towards establishing a single economic market between Australia and New Zealand. What this will do is improve labour market mobility between both countries because it will give people some security about the nature of their retirement savings. It is interesting to note that the productivity commissions on both sides of the Tasman supported the scheme because they saw it as a key part of strengthening our trans-Tasman economic relationship.
Simpson Scott: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
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Simpson Scott: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Sitting date: 19 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5369. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
9. 
SCOTT SIMPSON (National—Coromandel) 
 to the  
Associate Minister of Transport 
: What recent announcements have been made by the Government in relation to New Zealand’s vehicle licensing system? 
Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Associate Minister of Transport) 
: 
 Today I launched at Parliament the Vehicle Licensing Reform discussion document. The reform project jointly led by the Ministry of Transport and the New Zealand Transport Agency is looking at ways to improve the warrant of fitness certificate of fitness annual licensing and transport services licensing systems. The key question for this Government is whether we can make these systems simpler and better in order to save Kiwis time and money while still maintaining safety on our roads. I invite the public and interested stakeholders to make a submission and have their say on systems that affect the vast majority of New Zealanders. 
Scott Simpson 
: Given that the Government is seeking ways to make these systems simpler and better in order to save Kiwis time and money what are some of the options presented in the discussion document? 
Hon SIMON BRIDGES 
: In relation to warrants of fitness there are several options in the paper. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Simon says. 
Hon SIMON BRIDGES 
: Well New Zealanders do care about this Mr Peters. One option is looking at changing the frequency of inspections—for example yearly inspections for vehicles up to 12 years old and 6 monthly thereafter or inspections only at change of ownership. These are not preferred options and there may be others. What we know is that New Zealand’s inspection frequency in this area is higher than that of most other OECD countries.
Sabin Mike: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
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Sabin Mike: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Sitting date: 19 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5367. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
7. 
MIKE SABIN (National—Northland) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development 
: How will the recently established partnership between Child Youth and Family and Te Runanga A Iwi O Ngapuhi better protect children? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development) 
: 
 We have recently signed a formal memorandum of understanding between Child Youth and Family and Te Runanga a Iwi o Ngapuhi agreeing to work closely together to protect children. I want to commend the parties for this partnership. Ngapuhi are the first iwi to reach this milestone. It is an unfortunate reality that home is not a safe place for some children and I believe iwi have an important role to play in decisions about these children and their care. 
Mike Sabin 
: How will the partnership support vulnerable families? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: This partnership will support a number of joint initiatives as together we take responsibility for this group of vulnerable children. This includes earlier intervention particularly with vulnerable Ngapuhi whanau more open discussions joint decision-making for care placements and greater information-sharing.  
Mike Sabin 
: How does this agreement work better to support vulnerable children in need of care and protection? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: A part of the purpose of this agreement that I am particularly proud of is something that we are working on with iwi across the country to achieve. It is pre-approved iwi caregivers where iwi play a role in identifying safe whanau and families and if we have to remove a child particularly in an emergency situation they are immediately placed with extended whanau. They have been through Child Youth and Family checks we know where they are and they can then play a vital part in where that placement in the future might be.
Ardern Jacinda: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
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Ardern Jacinda: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Sitting date: 19 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5367. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
6. 
JACINDA ARDERN (Labour) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Does he stand by his statement that “… I am prepared to commit Government resources to try to lift children out of poverty”? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister) 
: 
 I stand by my full statement in the context in which it was given. I also note that at the time I went on to say that a decent education was important and that this Government’s investment in national standards was an important step in that regard. It is a shame that the member’s party is so confused about what its position is— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! No no; again there were no words in the primary question that were provocative. That is unfair. 
Jacinda Ardern 
: Does he also stand by his statements that child poverty needs to be measured and that his Government “will bring a special focus to improving the results of public services for New Zealand’s vulnerable children”? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: Well I am not sure which quote the member is referring to but I certainly know that in the past what I have said is that there are a number of measures for child poverty. Personally I think you actually need a number of measures. They can include everything from household indicators to health indicators or to education welfare and housing indicators. 
Jacinda Ardern 
: Does he support the concept of a bill to aim to reduce child poverty by requiring the Government to do the very things he has already indicated support for—namely measure poverty using a range of measures set targets to reduce it and report to Parliament on progress? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: If the member is talking about her bill no I do not think we are likely to support that. 
Jacinda Ardern 
: Why is he happy to spend $1 million to measure the cost of welfare to set targets to reduce it and to report on progress via a board but he will not do the same for child poverty? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: Well because firstly we spend about $14 billion a year on welfare so I think it is important that we get good measurements and look to make some changes there. But I think secondly it comes back to the point I made earlier. I do not think a single measure for poverty would be the right way to go and we have a range of measures already. 
Sue Moroney 
: Does he have a view on what Kate Sheppard and the women who won the right to vote 119 years ago today would think about child poverty in New Zealand in the year 2012? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: I am not sure I would be quite so presumptuous as to assume I know what women of the day were thinking. I am sure they celebrated the chance to vote and we celebrate alongside them.
Hutchison Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
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Hutchison Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Sitting date: 19 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5366. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
5. 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Hunua) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: What progress is the Government making with National Health Targets? 
Hon TONY RYALL (Minister of Health) 
: 
 We have obtained a fourth year of record increases in elective surgery which means that 95000 more elective surgeries were performed in the last 4 years compared with the number performed under the previous Government. In the past 4 years 12300 more patients have received orthopaedic operations including hip and other joint replacements. On top of this there were an extra 6800 ear nose and throat operations 13800 more general surgeries 4300 more operations for children 9 years and under and 14800 more ophthalmology operations. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: What other good performance can he report on elective surgery? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: I would like to thank the member for the opportunity to answer that question. Over the next 4 years we are investing tens of millions of dollars to maintain our record levels of elective surgery and further reduce waiting times for patients. At the end of June this year excluding Canterbury only 150 patients across the nation were waiting over 6 months for a surgical first specialist assessment or for elective surgery. Timely operations as the member will know make a big difference to being able to live a full and happy life and this Government is committed to providing more New Zealanders with the surgery they need.
Hipkins Chris: Local Government (Council-Controlled Organisations) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Hipkins Chris: Local Government (Council-Controlled Organisations) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 19 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5446. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
CHRIS HIPKINS (Senior Whip—Labour) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I want to pick up a point that my colleague opposite Michael Woodhouse raised earlier which I do not think we have necessarily resolved yet and that is to do with the tabling of multiple documents at the same time. In fact I have taken some time now to read through the Standing Orders and Speakers’ rulings and almost all of them seem to envisage the tabling of a document rather than of multiple documents. Therefore each is a separate question because the House may agree to the tabling of one but not others and so on. So I want you to perhaps give us some guidance on whether in fact it is a legitimate practice for a member to stand up and read out a list of documents that they want to table or whether in fact each document should be put as a separate question—described and put as a separate question—because potentially I think Mr Peters was describing a list of documents before that he wanted to table when actually the correct process could well have been for the House to consider each of those individually. I am sure Mr Peters ironically was trying to save time by reading out the whole list of documents at the same time but in fact that may have been where we got into some of the difficulty. Actually it may have been more sensible for him to go through the documents one at a time and for you then to test the will of the House with regard to each of those documents rather than doing so as a job lot if you like.
Personal Explanations — Speakers and Presiding Officers—Member’s Apology for Seeking Leave to Table Documents Already Available 
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Personal Explanations — Speakers and Presiding Officers—Member’s Apology for Seeking Leave to Table Documents Already Available 
[Sitting date: 19 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5414. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Personal Explanations 
Speakers and Presiding Officers—Member’s Apology for Seeking Leave to Table Documents Already Available 
BRENDAN HORAN (NZ First) 
: 
 Earlier I was most remiss and my leader has suggested that I stand here. I would like to apologise not only to you Mr Speaker but also to my colleagues from the Greens and also to United Future and to ACT and also— 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: Order! I understand what the member is wanting to do but he should seek leave to do that by way of a personal statement. So are you seeking leave? 
BRENDAN HORAN 
: Yes. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there anyone opposed to that course of action? There is none. The member may proceed. 
BRENDAN HORAN 
: Thank you Mr Speaker. Look I would just like to apologise for trifling with the Chair earlier. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: Thank you. Apology accepted.
Urgent Debates Declined — Government Financial Position—June 2012 Balance of Payments and International Investment Position 
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Urgent Debates Declined — Government Financial Position—June 2012 Balance of Payments and International Investment Position 
[Sitting date: 19 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5375. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Urgent Debates Declined 
Government Financial Position—June 2012 Balance of Payments and International Investment Position 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Honourable members I have received a letter from the Rt Hon Winston Peters seeking to debate under Standing Order 386 the Statistics New Zealand media release today entitled  
Balance of Payments and International Investment Position: June 2012 Quarter 
. The Government Statistician has sole responsibility for deciding the extent form and timing of the publications of statistics that Statistics New Zealand produces. The member in his application refers to the increasing current account deficit. For there to be a particular case of recent occurrence there must be either a new situation of importance or a new development in an existing situation of sufficient importance to warrant a debate being held. Neither a continuing problem nor an accumulation of information meets that test. The application is therefore declined.