Oral Questions for Thursday 25 July 2024

Parliament - Live Stream and Question Time

Questions to Ministers Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by her statement, "The rising number of visitors to our tax calculator reflects Kiwis' keen interest in understanding how the Budget will personally benefit them through the savings we've achieved and the tax relief we're implementing"; if so, how many of the 513,000 people that have used the calculator are unique individuals? KAHURANGI CARTER to the Minister for Children: What does she say to Tupua Urlich, a survivor of abuse in State care, who said of the proposal to repeal section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act, "We know time and time again they place children with strangers who go on to physically, sexually and mentally abuse these children." and "Whanau means more than mum, and dad and uncles - we have a wider hapu and iwi. There is no way the state can turn around and say there is no one safe enough to look after these children"? RYAN HAMILTON to the Minister of Finance: When was the last time personal income tax rates or thresholds were adjusted? Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME to the Minister for Children: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? MIKE BUTTERICK to the Minister of Transport: What recent announcements has he made about the Wairarapa and Manawatu commuter rail lines? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence: Does she stand by her statement, "I expect people to be able to get the right response for their needs"? RICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH to the Minister for Child Poverty Reduction: Why has she made the choice to set child poverty targets for 2026/27, which would mean that approximately 17,000 more children experience material hardship than under the 2023/2024 target? PAULO GARCIA to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What steps is the Government taking to reduce the number of people receiving the jobseeker support benefit? Hon DAVID PARKER to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Does he accept the International Court of Justice ruling that Israel is acting illegally as an occupying force in Gaza; if so, why has he not said so? Dr VANESSA WEENINK to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: What recent steps has the Government taken to establish a consumer data right in New Zealand? MARIAMENO KAPA-KINGI to the Lead Coordination Minister for the Government's Response to the Royal Commission's Report into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions: How many of the 138 recommendations from the Whanaketia report on historical abuse in State care and faith-based institutions will the Government commit to adopting, if any? ARENA WILLIAMS to the Minister for Building and Construction: Do "People who are actively engaged in building homes in this country" tell him that building colder, damper houses, with less insulation, will result in more houses being built?