responsibility and I'd note that on this side of the House
we don't do things like they do it
in Epsom.
Question No.4. The Hon Judith Collins.
Collins.
My
My question is to the Minister for
actions, if any, will she take to ensure the cost of
house construction is able
to support affordable
construction is able to support
I
I thank
I thank the Hon Judith Collins for her question. This
question is taking action on a number of
fronts to reduce the cost of
construction and improve
and improve housing affordability. In my
In my building and construction portfolio I have worked with
ministers across several
portfolios, for instance to develop
a construction skills action plan.
This plan puts in place new
initiatives and partnership
with the industry itself to develop capacity
of the construction workforce
to deliver housing that
our New Zealand people need. That effort will
contribute to addressing the
overall cost of construction. Has
she expressed any concerns
to the Minister for Workplace Relations and
Safety that proposed
employment legislation changes will allow union
reps to appear on building sites
without first
without first warning site without first warning site
discussing the employment relations bill when it comes through
the Cabinet process. It is
in all of our interests that we ensure the
safety of our workers. That is what we are
committed to doing. Supplementary.
The
committed to doing. Supplementary.
member aware that under current employment legislation and changes
contained
contained in the Employment Relations Amendment Bill a union
official must identify
themselves when entering a workplace and can...
Order! This minister
doesn't have responsibility for that. The
previous supplementary was worded in
a way that involved the action. Mere
awareness of another
member's portfolio does not go to ministerial
responsibility. The Hon Judith
responsibility. The Hon Judith
Collins, further supplementary.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. Would she
support a building site
manager refusing access to a site if a union
rep turns up and there is no health
and safety officer present to offer
a health and
in all of our interests to ensure that the safety and health of all of
our workers, especially in
building and construction sites,
are actually and
and construction sites, are actually taken care of. This is one of
the reasons that we are
looking at this legislation. It will come to
Cabinet. It will go through the
Cabinet process and Cabinet in
Cabinet process and Cabinet in
total, all of us will agree and
decide how to move forward
in this area. Kieran McAnulty.
decide how to move forward in this
point of order. Mr Speaker, I'm not sure that the
minister really addressed the question. I'm
absolutely convinced that
she did. absolutely
absolutely convinced that she did.
responsible for was addressed. Kieran McAnulty. Jamie Strange. Oh,
responsible for was addressed. Jamie Strange. A slightly
better looking version of the member.
I thought you had a shave. My I thought you had a shave. My
question is to the
Minister of Building and Housing, what
is this Government doing to reduce the cost
Completing an analysis and review of building products in
Completing an analysis and review of
Zealand is an area of priority for me. MBIE has led a review
of building products since
June of this year. I will take options to Cabinet
for consideration by the end
of this year. This review of New Zealand's
building products regulatory and
building products regulatory and
assurance system will support
innovation and ensure a vibrant and
effective market for
building products in our country. It
will contribute effectively to building
affordable homes for New Zealanders.
affordable
affordable homes for New Zealanders. Judith Collins. Will building
Judith Collins. Will building
contractors be exempt
from proposed provisions that require new
provisions that require new
contractors to take on employees
That is a direct question and That is a direct question and
another members responsibility.
Further supplementary. Does she
believe that confidence investment
believe that confidence investment
in the construction industry will
be increased if businesses are forced
to take on employees they know
that our Government has done is we've come through, we've committed
to building a lot of houses, because
we are addressing the issue that
we do not have enough houses. In the
building and construction area, I'm
reviewing products, I'm looking
at risk and liability reallocation, I'm
doing a whole lot of work because we
need to address this issue.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
need to address this issue. Thank you, Mr Speaker. A point of order,
the Hon Gerry Brownlee. How can that
possibly be an answer... I'm going
to ask the member to ask the
question again. Thank you,
Mr Speaker. Does she believe that
confidence and investment
in the construction industry will be
construction industry will be
increased if businesses
are forced to take on employees
they know nothing
to take on employees they know
confidence of our businesses in the building and construction
sector will be increased once we
implement all of the work that we are doing in
building and construction. Question
building and construction. Question
No.5.
My question is to the Minister for Social
about benefit outcomes has she released, and what
is the Government doing to meet the challenges
Yesterday
Yesterday I released a report prepared by the Ministry
of Social Development on what happened to
people leaving