Question Time 16.10.2024

Timetable for TPM hikoi next month is available online.

PM corrected a mistake he made during yesterday’s Question 1. -

1. Meager to Willis JM 5, NW 5 Annual CPI inflation = 2.2% in September.

‘We have broken the back of the inflation beast … the crushing price increases that came with Labour’  - Nicola Talking as if the cost of living crisis is over, which is a total lie. ‘Inflation means nothing when you’ve lost your job’ – Gary.

2. Chippy to the Prime Omelette  C 6, PO 6

The Prime Omelette was in Teflon mode today, and he deflected very well.

‘Our economic plan is delivering … we don’t waste money … confidence is up’ – Omelette 'His government doesn’t care’ – Chippy.

3. Mooney to Upston JM 5, LU 4

2% of beneficiaries are on the orange or red light under the new traffic light system.

4600 people are being sanctioned, 4500 of whom are on JobSeeker support.

2025 will introduce new, non-financial sanctions.

4. Edmonds to Willis BE 6, NW 4

Tax question. ‘The member’s assertion is wrong’ – Nicola, defending herself from a challenge by Barbara about the $250 per week of tax relief that National claimed they would deliver during Election 2023.

Another tedious point of order that dragged on. Nicola was in a mean mood today.

‘She can’t help herself. Exhibiting all the symptoms of someone desperate to hide shit’ – Gary, calling it as he saw it. 5. Avocado Princess to the Prime Omelette AP 6, PO 3

Spruiking Fast Track by quoting business groups that support it: that’s Chris Luxon.

‘Some projects will be controversial’ – Omelette. 'Does he take New Zealanders for chumps?’ – Princess.

Chloe stated that most of the new coal mines were for export-quality coal, so his pitch of using those minerals to run NZ was a pile of shit, and also said that the Prime Omelette ‘takes incredible liberties with the truth.’

6. Ayesha to Reti  AV 5, SR 5 A commissioner has been appointed to investigate Health NZ. ‘Our government has already made a record investment in health.’ – Reti Pay equity? Not a focus, and they played the blame game for a wee while. ‘He and the commissioner are cooking the books’ – Ayesha. 7. Trask to the Pink Skull LT 5, DS 5

School attendance. The Pink Skull stated that all state schools are going to have a plan to manage attendance, and that they intend to prosecute parents. Gary reckoned that the Pink Skull’s main concern was stopping people from using taking care of their kids as an excuse to skip work. 8. Willow-Jean to Erica WJP 6, ES 4

Erica stood by cutting funding to a program that allowed teachers to learn Te Reo.

40% of people weren’t graduating, and it was 2.3 times more expensive than other methods. Winston said something that absolutely incensed Debbie and Rawiri. 9. Dr. Lawrence Xu-Nan to Erica LX 7, ES 6

First nationwide phonics tests in Te Reo Māori. Erica said that they had met their Tiriti obligations and that ‘everything … has been completely and utterly mirrored in Te Reo Māori.’ ‘We are putting student achievement at the heart of everything that we do’ – Erica.

‘This has been the most colonial government in my lifetime. It’s like the revolution of the last 40 years never happened’ – Gary.

10. Nakhle to Stanford RN 5, ES 5

Ministry-funded maths programmes are being delivered for schools. Erica called the Maths Action Plan ‘a world-leading curriculum document’ and ‘the feedback has been heartwarming.’

11. Bennett to Bishop GB 6, CB 4

Fast Track. ‘I can stand behind it because it’s true’ – Bishop

Waffle waffle waffle… ‘Who needs facts?’ – Avocado Princess, being sarcastic.

Brownlee was keen to threaten opposition members with being ejected from the House, but he hasn’t said that to a government MP since he started as Speaker of the House (or, I’ve never seen it, at any rate).

12. Brewer to Penk CB 4, CP 4

‘Building needs to be easier’ – Penk.

‘How many houses have you built? Where’s your press releases?’ – Gary.

Holding tradies to account… dunno what they meant by that.