(ed:..i will post a commentary @ the close of proceedings..)
Questions to Ministers
(key apologises for ‘believing’ shearer..(ha..!..ha..!..)..speaker tears a strip off key for abusing the personal explanation process..)
1)..DAVID SHEARER to the Prime Minister: Does he believe that Hon John Banks has behaved in a manner that “upholds, and is seen to uphold the highest ethical standards” as required by the Cabinet Manual?
key:.’yes!’..key claims that ‘cos banks wasn’t a minister then…it dosen’t apply..
key claims to have ‘no ministerial-responsibility’..speaker tells key that he does have ‘ministerial-responsibility’..
banks anonymous donations totaled $640,000..
..shearer suggests key have ‘another cup of tea with banks’…
(key was ducking and weaving…and looking it..)
2)..BARBARA STEWART to the Prime Minister: Did Mr Banks explain to the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff that he would use “obfuscation” in his dealings with the media over the “anonymous” donations from Kim Dotcom?
..key is treating the whole issue as a joke..
mallard asks about dotcom paying for hotel accomodation for banks in hong kong..
..key said banks paid all his own expenses…
3)..MAGGIE BARRY to the Minister of Finance: How does the Government intend to strengthen the Public Finance Act 1989 in the Budget this month?
..key gives yet another soporific-rendition…(even those from his own tribe..who sit behind him..are struggling to stay compos mentis…)
4)..Hon DAVID PARKER to the Minister of Finance: In the most recent World Economic Outlook published by the IMF in April 2012, which of the 34 advanced economies listed is forecast to have a worse current account deficit (as a percentage of GDP) than New Zealand in 2013?
answer:..only worse counties are canary islands and greece..
parker is successfully sniping at englishs’ ‘following a plan that’s working’..
..english turns to his stand-bye for when questions get tough:..ie..blame labour..
5)..METIRIA TUREI to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all the answers he gave to Oral Question No 4 yesterday?
turei is citing all the other ministers who have resigned..(esp:..heatley..)
(ed:..turei is doing best of anyone today..against key..)
6)..KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI to the Minister for Economic Development: What action is the Government taking to improve co-ordination of the business growth agenda?
joyce…talks efficiency..
7)..Hon PHIL GOFF to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: What damage, if any, has been done to staff confidence and retention by the change proposals for his Ministry announced on 23 February 2012, and does he intend to announce on 10 May 2012 a reversal of many of the proposals?
finlayson tries to be a smart-arse…speaker pulls him up..
goff quotes a letter from a division of foreign affairs..
..goff predicts amajor u-turn on the reorganisation of foreign affairs..
..savings will be $12 million..(previous claims of $40 million savings..)
..consultants this year have cost $9.9 million..with $3million more in the next few months..
..(goff is doing a good job here..showing up what an expensive farce this has been..)
8)..SIMON O’CONNOR to the Minister of Labour: What steps is the Government taking to improve workplace health and safety?
wilkinson..(or as i call her..tin-tins’ aunt…) announces $37 million program..(more inspectors..)
9)..GARETH HUGHES to the Minister of Conservation: Does her proposed extension of the Marine Mammal Sanctuary for Maui’s dolphins allow the use of set nets, drift nets, and trawl nets within the sanctuary?
wilkinson claims she has no responsibility for nets etc..
10)..IAN McKELVIE to the Minister of Corrections: What reports has she received about trade training within prisons?
(ed:..i hafta say that on the surface..this govt has ramped up education and training in prisons..which can only be a good thing..
..labour when in power did s.f.a…)
11)..Hon LIANNE DALZIEL to the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery: Has he required that all his Ministers involved in the Canterbury earthquake recovery read the briefing paper dated 10 May 2011 prepared by Chief Science Advisor, Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, into the psychosocial consequences of the Canterbury earthquakes; if not, why not?
..residents have had ten delays in being told what is happening to their houses/land..
12)..NIKKI KAYE to the Minister of Education: What evidence has she seen of excellent achievement in scholarship exams?
summary:..what is clear from this questiontime is that key is being far too ‘clever’ in his handling of the banks-affair..esp. when comparisons are made to other ministers who have resigned..esp. heatley..
..shearer got one-liner-of-the-day..for his suggestion key ‘have another cup of tea with banks’…
..the anonymous donations to banks totaled $640,000..
..only greece has a worse current account deficit than new zealand..
..the govt are to be commended for increasing training/education in prisons..
..savings from the foreign affairs revamp will be $12 million…the amount spent on consultants..?..you guessed it..!..$12 million..(if it weren’t so fucked/expensive..it’d be funny..eh..?..)
..it was a short questiontime..all done and dusted in 55 mins…
