14 Aug 2016

The Week In Parliament for 14 August 2016

From In Parliament, 7:30 am on 14 August 2016

Committee Stage of the Government's budget passes on Tuesday, with its third and final reading kicked off by Finance Minister Bill English on Thursday; Members' Day sees David Parker's Minimum Wage (Contractor Remuneration) Amendment Bill pass its second reading by 61 votes to 60 - the same margin that sees Mark Mitchell's Social Security (Stopping Benefit Payments for Offenders who Repeatedly Fail to Comply with Community Sentences) Amendment Bill pass its first reading; Andrew Little's Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill is the subject of questions in the chamber and submissions in the committee rooms; Reserve Bank Governor Graeme Wheeler fronts up to the Finance and Expenditure Committee to explain his decision to cut the Official Cash Rate to 2.0% - a move that elicits questions about interests rates, housing and immigration for the Finance Minister; A tax bill addressing tax havens passes its first reading; Law and Order Committee begins inquiry into illegal firearms; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee hears submissions on the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement Bill; Health Committee announces it has received more than 21,000 submissions on a petition on euthanasia - with 1800 of those due to be heard in person; Conservation Minister Maggie Barry forced to withdraw and apologise for comments about a New Zealand First MP.