QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS

1. DAVID SHEARER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?

2. PAUL GOLDSMITH to the Minister of Finance: What progress is the Government making in its infrastructure investment programme and how will this contribute to building a more productive and competitive economy?

3. GRANT ROBERTSON to the Prime Minister: Does he have confidence in the Minister of Building and Construction?

4. SIMON O'CONNOR to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment: What recent announcements has the Government made to enable students and their parents to make more informed choices about their career and study options?

5. Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Minister for Economic Development: Will he implement the recommendations for jobs and economic development made in Greenpeace’s Energy Revolution report researched and co-authored by the German Aerospace Centre – advisers to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – and the University of Technology, Sydney?

6. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery: What is the total number and value of contracts held by Mainzeal Property and Construction in respect of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery rebuild?

7. CATHERINE DELAHUNTY to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Did the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade provide him with advice regarding the visit of Benny Wenda to New Zealand and the possibility of Mr Wenda speaking at a meeting in Parliament; if so, what was that advice?

8. Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA to the Minister of Housing: What steps is the Government taking to improve housing affordability?

9. Su'a WILLIAM SIO to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment: Does he stand by his Government’s 2011 election promise of “170,000 more jobs”; if so, why have a net 30,000 New Zealanders lost their jobs over the past year?

10. Dr JACKIE BLUE to the Minister of Health: What new initiatives is the Government taking in the fight against rheumatic fever?

11. CHRIS HIPKINS to the Minister of Education: Does she stand by all of her decisions as Minister of Education; if not, which, if any, particular decisions does she now regret?

12. MARK MITCHELL to the Minister of Police: What reports has she received on the number of frontline police patrols?

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

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• NZ Govt - Housing accords legislation passes first reading - Legislation For Housing Accords, Land Supply - Housing package improves affordability, access
• Greens - Budget numbers show National’s failure on home affordability
• Auckland Chamber of Commerce - Budget 2013: Housing intervention needed
• Out-Link - Gareth Morgan: Response to housing problem limp-wristed
• Earlier, Pre-Budget - Auckland Accord announced

Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

ALSO:

• Parliament Today - Parliament Resumes To Pass Budget Bills
• Labour - Government to extend protest ban
• Greenpeace NZ - Oil Companies Lacking ‘Expertise’ and ‘Financial Ability’ Set to Be Handed Drilling Permits
• 2010 image via: Pacific.Scoop - Media watcher gives NZ press nil score card for China oil spill coverage