Thursday, 27 February 2003
QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER
QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS
1. Dr MURIEL NEWMAN to the Minister of Social Services and Employment: What is the proper process by which Ministers
with innovative ideas on welfare reform present them to Cabinet for consideration, and has he received any Cabinet
reports prepared by Hon John Tamihere challenging the Government welfare monopoly and calling on the Government to
unleash Maori communities from state dependency by allowing “communities to take back their ability to be responsible
for themselves, to manage themselves, and to grow a work ethic, commitment, and responsibility, themselves”?
2. LARRY BALDOCK to the Minister of Justice: Does he stand by his comments reported in the Dominion Post on 21 February
2003, that “The [Prostitution Reform] Bill is laissez faire at the moment; it provides for no controls … The police will
tell you that gangs are involved in a big way and providing prostitution alongside other criminal activities they are
involved in. I think it would be unconscionable not to give the police the power in the prostitution business to exclude
those people who are patently unsuitable to be involved in it.”; if so, has he discussed these concerns with the
Minister of Police?
3. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Prime Minister: Further to her response yesterday that the goal of being back in the top half
of the developed world in terms of per capita GDP by 2011 is not a short-term goal, what is her Government’s timeframe
for achieving that objective?
4. GEORGINA BEYER to the Minister of Housing: What is the Government doing to protect the tenure of Auckland City
Council housing tenants?
5. JEANETTE FITZSIMONS to the Minister for Trade Negotiations : Has he been advised of any expressions of concern by
local government about current negotiations on the General Agreement on Trade in Services; if so, what steps is he
taking to ensure the Government listens to Christchurch City Council’s request that no commitments are made in
environmental services?
6. RON MARK to the Minister of Transport: What has he done with respect to tougher laws for foreign drivers and why?
7. Hon MURRAY McCULLY to the Associate Minister of Maori Affairs: In light of his comments yesterday regarding his
speech circulated to the Knowledge Wave conference, “I stand by everything I said”, what specific recommendations will
he be making to achieve the “number of policy shifts” required to promote Maori economic development?
8. LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade: What assistance is New Zealand giving to its
Pacific Island neighbours to meet international counter-terrorism standards?
9. Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Minister of Housing: Why are families in Nelson living in tents, caravans and garages when
Housing New Zealand homes have been empty for 12 months?
10. DAVID CUNLIFFE to the Minister of Local Government: What reports has he received of feedback on the consultation
procedures in the new Local Government Act 2002?
11. Dr LYNDA SCOTT to the Minister of Health: Why have district health boards recorded a combined deficit of $64 million
in the last three months, up $17.2 million from the quarter before and is this causing cuts to patient care?
12. Hon BRIAN DONNELLY to the Minister of Education: Has he received any reports that there has been an upsurge in
students providing false or temporary addresses in order to gain enrolment at a school of their choice?