It's not that Parliament is obsessive at all you understand. Let's call it efficient, organised; relentless even.
In the House this week MPs are debating the budget for a few hours every single sitting day. But that's not enough. They are also investigating it in every single subject select committee. All twelve of them.
You can walk from committee room to committee room and everywhere find ministers sitting in front of select committees, being grilled by MPs (especially the opposition of course) about their plans, the policies, the costs, the projections, the numbers.
Minister of Education Chris Hipkins is quizzed by MPs on the Education and Workforce Committee as part of the Estimates Hearings. Photo: VNP / Phil Smith
At The House we start each week with a 'what's on in the chamber this week' chat with the minister responsible for planning the House's debating agenda - The Leader of the House, Chris Hipkins. This week, when much of the action is just more budget we debriefed him instead on his own committee appearance last week.
The experience, the tactics, the difference between opposition and government approach. Have a listen.
And if you want to listen to a programme about the actual hearing, here's one Daniela prepared earlier, including some of the budget hearing interchange between Chris Hipkins and his opposite number Nikki Kaye, as well as how that interchange relates to oral questions in the House.
National MP Nikki Kaye on the Education and Workforce Committee questions Minister of Education Chris Hipkins as part of the Estimates Hearings. Photo: VNP / Phil Smith
