"\u003C!DOCTYPE html\u003E\u003Chtml xmlns:xlink=\u0022http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink\u0022 xmlns:xsi=\u0022http://www.w3.org/2007/XMLSchema-instance\u0022 xmlns:mml=\u0022http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML\u0022\u003E\n  \u003Chead\u003E\n    \u003CMETA http-equiv=\u0022Content-Type\u0022 content=\u0022text/html; charset=utf-16\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cmeta name=\u0022viewport\u0022 content=\u0022width=device-width, initial-scale=1\u0022\u003E\n  \u003C/head\u003E\n  \u003Cbody style=\u0022font-family:sans-serif; font-size:100%;\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022081ad38cc4a24f379f83aca2d854917b\u0022\u003EWEDNESDAY, 19 AUGUST 2020\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000003\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002262965170f0474ebba25da0166eac6bf2\u0022\u003EWEDNESDAY, 19 AUGUST 2020\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000002\u0022\u003EThe Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m. \u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000004\u0022\u003EPrayers. \u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000005\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b3e65fbf6e1346f486ffc8a94cc5fa05\u0022\u003EOral Questions\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000006\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002289e9d944bc4f4ae785facc9fafd10874\u0022\u003EQuestions to Ministers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000007\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022265ecb66f166407ba76516a336404627\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 1\u2014Prime Minister\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022 data-id=\u002264ee7a09f210463da781d177de6b017c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000008\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E1. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002264ee7a09f210463da781d177de6b017c\u0022\u003EDAVID SEYMOUR (Leader\u2014ACT)\u003C/span\u003E to the Prime Minister: Was her statement yesterday that \u201CI have had reported reluctance amongst staff around asymptomatic testing\u201D based on a weekly report to Cabinet from the Minister of Health; if not, what did she base that statement on? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022 data-id=\u00221b9a00eb4e5a43e8bfaf0212115235c7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000009\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221b9a00eb4e5a43e8bfaf0212115235c7\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister):\u003C/span\u003E This was raised with me directly by health officials on 5 August. It had also been the subject of some discussion amongst Cabinet Ministers as we reviewed details around testing numbers. It is important to note, though, that the Government is not interested in trying to apportion blame here. As I said at the time when I raised the issue, our focus is on finding solutions to the problems as they emerge and making sure that we are constantly addressing those issues. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000010\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220f843476fcce430f8552112afe4622ac\u0022\u003EDavid Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: Will she continue to trust those officials, given that Unite Union national secretary, Gerard Hehir, has said, \u201CThe issue has not been from our members, or our workers getting in the way of testing at all,\u201D? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000011\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228f45c0adf7d04c23b9a557f9f477c716\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Again, I am not at all getting to a place here where we apportion blame. I\u2019m simply reflecting that when asked around our testing numbers, when we\u2019ve had, for instance, sites set up at Auckland International Airport, what were the reasons why we weren\u2019t seeing the flow of staff through\u2014and it will be more than one reason, I am sure\u2014we did have conversations around whether or not this was a factor, and it had been raised with me by health officials. Again, I\u2019m not saying necessarily that will be all at staff at all\u2014that would simply be an incorrect assertion. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000012\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c396678a87e043fa83c5da4a796bb534\u0022\u003EDavid Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: What actions did she take to overcome the lack of testing due to the reluctance to be tested that was reported to her on 5 August? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000013\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226b6f5d1d2bcb47259b192c1b7ea91a9e\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: First of all, it would be wrong to assume that that would reflect the totality of the issue. If we thought that was the only issue at play, I don\u2019t think we would have overcome some of the testing numbers. I\u2019ve already said that when we started getting weekly testing, we could see those numbers were low, but by 31 July, they did come up to over 211 of border staff\u2014keeping in mind that our front-line agencies who are interacting with those higher risk numbers are around 280. So we were starting to see those numbers pick up. To answer your question: when it was raised with me, I did speak directly with at least one union, but did not have the opportunity to speak to all. They had not heard of that as an issue, but we were starting to work to get to the bottom of how we could give assurances to staff around testing. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000014\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227e22bb95-9afb-449c-bcd2-de9fd4f2277c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223ec78354bf0f471290ea6dd010df7b13\u0022\u003EDavid Seymour\u003C/span\u003E: If it\u2019s not about attributing blame, what role does accountability play in her management style of this Government when things go fundamentally wrong? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000015\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022558e9e33e981486b97a34c52b0b27c7e\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: As I\u2019ve said in this House, and as I said just moments ago, all the way through our COVID response, where we have seen issues, we have acted immediately to address them. We put in a plan around testing at the end of June. We worked to get weekly reporting through to us so we could see whether or not the testing plan was being rolled out adequately. We raised, when there were issues that perhaps suggested it wasn\u2019t as systematic as we wanted, how we could overcome those. Now, we have also mandated that testing in those high-risk areas, and you\u2019ll see today, to support the Ministry of Health in rolling out that surveillance plan, we\u2019ve also put in additional support because we are working across multiple agencies: ports, airports, and a range of sites across the country. It is a massive logistical exercise we\u2019re supporting Health with. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000016\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00223d3e285ebe7943f3a41d1b0eb189e8b9\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 2\u2014Prime Minister\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022 data-id=\u0022dcf00e5f29134a869bad038c063fa478\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000017\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E2. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022dcf00e5f29134a869bad038c063fa478\u0022\u003EHon JUDITH COLLINS (Leader of the Opposition)\u003C/span\u003E to the Prime Minister: Is she confident her Government moved at an appropriate pace to put in appropriate measures to manage the risk of COVID-19 re-emerging in the community? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022 data-id=\u00226bc474b50e5444cba7ea79bad8d83f15\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000018\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226bc474b50e5444cba7ea79bad8d83f15\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister):\u003C/span\u003E Yes. The positive result in the current outbreak came back at around 2.30 p.m. on 11 August. I was informed around 4\u00A0p.m. I travelled back to Wellington immediately and met with the Minister of Health around 7 p.m. At 7.30, we met with all-of-Government officials and health officials. Immediately after that, I convened Ministers with power to act, and we made the decision to move Auckland to alert level 3 and the rest of the country to level 2 by midday, 12 August. The Government since has undertaken extensive testing and contact tracing with the Ministry of Health to identify all cases in the cluster and place them into isolation. We have already conducted over 123,000 tests and are performing at approximately 80 percent the benchmark for contact tracing within 48 hours. We are moving as swiftly as we can to manage this re-emergence in line with our resurgence plan. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000019\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e8c8c8c5b7194b2d92744ea98d9c7027\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I asked about the appropriate measures to manage the risk of COVID-19 re-emerging in the community, not what has happened since it\u2019s re-emerged in the community. Perhaps you could consider whether or not the Prime Minister has actually addressed the question. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000020\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224e65f66a13834b92a11bc93b7cdb06ed\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I can see nothing relating to timing in that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000021\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022126d5dd080d44b93be6b5a97475c8866\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: Was it her belief that on 22 June, when Cabinet signed off the Ministry of Health testing strategy, all border-facing staff would then be routinely tested for COVID-19? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cee67244eafa4b5c8251002348fe6024\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: The member will see in the testing regime\u2014but I have to say, it\u2019s only one part of the re-emergence plan. We released in, and my recollection is late July\u2014the member will actually probably remember the date. It was the same day that she became Leader of the Opposition\u2014that was the day that the Government released our plan to respond to any new COVID cases in the community. That sits alongside our testing strategy, which was agreed by Cabinet at the end of June, and it did include an expectation around testing of asymptomatic individuals at the border. We also put in place reporting expectations so we could continue to monitor whether or not that was in place, and, as I\u2019ve already discussed, when we saw that those numbers weren\u2019t meeting our expectations, we took steps to continue to scale up that testing. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000023\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022750c1b4be6384f66b46ac0468e6b7252\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: Was she aware that the strategy only encouraged testing, said no disincentives should exist, but made clear that any testing of border-facing staff would be voluntary? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000024\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002269e036d93d074bb4b71722e4c6c516d0\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Of course, as I\u2019ve said, when we saw the numbers coming through, we were concerned that we weren\u2019t seeing enough testing at those sites. As I\u2019ve already acknowledged to the member, over the three-week period, we did see an increase in the number of those staff while we continued to have those talks with the Ministry of Health of what we could do to rapidly improve. The member will also be familiar, because I\u2019ve already set this out, that we had the same questions and issues with making sure we got our managed isolation staff numbers up, which was why\u2014and we made this decision as a Cabinet to require all staff to be tested within those facilities because of the risk that they presented. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000025\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223dc407050c324c04ae39da5bdafaedb2\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: Why, then, did her Government issue on 23 June, one day after the Cabinet sign-off of mandatory testing, the next\u2014did she issue the press release that included the line \u201Cregular health check and asymptomatic testing of all border-facing workers\u201D, if it was only going to be voluntary? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000026\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b1052126bbde495f948d33f95248ac13\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Because that was our expectation. I also did acknowledge in a post-Cab on 20 July that we\u2019d set down the expectation that he was working with the Minister of Health on adjustments required to see that surveillance testing increase, because we acknowledged then that we weren\u2019t seeing it meet our expectations. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000027\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228347802beea44dcc889e849231488c72\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: Does she accept that the word \u201Call\u201D gave people the impression that this testing would mean \u201Call\u201D? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000028\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fbd2fcbb6a044eaa8861b581078f8535\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Of course, as I\u2019ve said, when we saw the reporting coming back with the low numbers, we could see it wasn\u2019t as wide-reaching as our expectation, which is why we put in place, again, a Cabinet minute recording particularly for managed isolation facilities, and we continued in our work with the Ministry of Health to up the numbers that we saw of that testing at the border. Again, as I have said, that is only one part, and I understand the member\u2019s interest here. We of course are continuing to put in assurances to make sure that we do have that regular testing cycle coming through at the border. I\u2019ve given further measures again today to ensure that is happening, but it would be wrong to assume that just testing is enough. It would be wrong to assume that just personal protective equipment is enough, or that just infection control is enough. We need all of it, and I would finally remind the member that despite comprehensive testing, to date we have not drawn that conclusion between our current cluster and our border. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000029\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002281fe2a44c740449eaee230ed50f587ea\u0022\u003EHon Grant Robertson\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Prime Minister confirm in light of the primary question that the pace and level of contact tracing is meeting the standards set by the Government at somewhat over 80 percent\u2014not 6 percent, as I heard on the radio this morning? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000030\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dfd2e0a98fe54eaa95ca0cdba1e5f9c5\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Yes. As I\u2019ve said, we have successfully contacted 1,861 individuals. We are meeting our expectation, and that has been, of course, that within a 48-hour period of a positive return, we are contact tracing those close contacts. That work that was done after our first outbreak to use Sir Brian Roche, get that system up to scratch, and to ensure it is, as far as possible, what has been called gold standard was very, very important and useful. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000031\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224d9a8dec6a9f40a3b537ae92b4add7df\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: Were health officials specifically directed to test all border-facing staff prior to 22 July? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000032\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002275351913c507409ab893540dd197223d\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019d want to go back through the Cabinet minute, but certainly you can see an expectation in the language that I\u2019ve used publicly, both at the time and since. Certainly, it was minuted for managed isolation staff, and the fact that you can see from the reporting that we were not satisfied with our numbers early on, but that work was done so that by 31 July we had it up over 200\u2014that was our expectation, and we knew there were barriers to overcome to make sure it was happening. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000033\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224fa68ab7b30f4c62962cd00ccbbaf8ad\u0022\u003EHon Grant Robertson\u003C/span\u003E: In light of the primary question, again, is the Prime Minister satisfied with the overall level of testing in the wake of the re-emergence\u2014in particular, noting that the total number of tests per confirmed case for New Zealand is now 470.5, compared to Australia at 232.9? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000034\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e70b118ded6a4427954e9c333d06632f\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Part of our resurgence plan was of course to have rapid, scaled-up testing\u2014and that\u2019s not just, of course, of staff but within the community\u2014as part of our surveillance, and around our close contact and casual contacts. The 123,000 tests that have been conducted to date acts as a form of reassurance that we are reaching those we need to reach whilst having some surveillance around whether or not that is a contained cluster. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000035\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022654048db36af4a9e850c0cdb1a6fbcd9\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: Why, after putting mandatory isolation in place on 9 April for returnees, did it take her Government 104 days to set the expectation that all border staff would be tested? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000036\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002209694c1790844e70a4eb1fddec58f318\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Of course we have changed rapidly the managed isolation process. We in April, of course, moved very quickly away from a system that many countries still use, where they have returnees just self-isolating at home, to requiring everyone to go into facilities. Now, my recollection is that we have had somewhere in the vicinity of 40,000 people going through Government-run facilities. That is significant. Once we had that regime set up, we moved to increase the controls around those. We now have them managed by Defence Force personnel, and even today we\u2019ve taken new steps again to scale back the use of private contractors, scale up Defence Force, and, where we are using security, directly engage them by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and make sure they\u2019re paid a living wage. We have always looked for improvements and made them all the way through as part of our response. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000037\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002243535f92c43b4ca4a46b63090152ddc0\u0022\u003EHon Grant Robertson\u003C/span\u003E: In light of that answer, what is the Prime Minister\u2019s response to the statement by the Opposition health spokesperson Dr Shane Reti that it would be impossible to have 100 percent watertightness at the border and \u201CI don\u2019t think anyone, in anyone\u2019s hands\u201D\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000038\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c2e220dc9b904fd094d45173e52a4126\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Just as one\u2019s not allowed to use these things to attack, one shouldn\u2019t use them to support, and, quite obviously, the Prime Minister does not have responsibility for Dr Reti. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000039\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bbded2ec-ac25-4a73-a380-3f4d87693084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fd21ee6c0fec46809ba2aef492119215\u0022\u003EHon Stuart Nash\u003C/span\u003E: In light of the primary question, before the recent outbreak, did the Prime Minister hear any reports or hear anyone state that the Government was actually scaremongering or playing politics in warning New Zealanders not to be complacent? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000040\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225b22216ab6f64f158100a2d0ff1bfda4\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Yes. That is something that was levelled at us multiple times. When we produced resurgence plans, when we continued to encourage people to get testing if they were symptomatic, when we asked people to prepare by having a mask at home, we were labelled as scaremongering. Again, I ask for nothing more than a consistent approach\u2014yes, for us to be held to account, but for, as much as possible, a consistent approach to the public. These are anxious-riddled times. As much as we can, as officials in the public domain, consistently encourage people to take steps to look after their public health, the better off we will all be. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000041\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b5627343eea3475f8115b4f009df3095\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: Why has the Prime Minister had to bring in another working group today of Heather Simpson and Sir Brian Roche? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000042\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002254af0a5bda454e49a4c247f57f89a29e\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: We haven\u2019t. We already have a surveillance and testing plan and it is a robust one. We are acknowledging, of course, though, that we are implementing that alongside what is a period of a huge amount of work for the Ministry of Health. As they continue to successfully deploy our resurgence plan, they are also being asked to deploy a strategy that cuts across ports up and down the country, international airports, and multiple sites, working across, of course, supporting the work at managed isolation facilities. It is not unreasonable\u2014in fact, it is responsible\u2014to support them by bringing in extra individuals who do also have expertise across different agencies to make sure they\u2019re well supported in rolling out that plan. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000043\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022aa61ba77ed2e4fd5bae475314c10ef58\u0022\u003EHon James Shaw\u003C/span\u003E: Just in light of her answer before that there were something like 40,000 people who have been processed at the border so far, is that, essentially, saying that given that there has been one outbreak in that period of time, there was a one-in-40,000 chance that there would be another outbreak? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000044\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224ab1841648904fb8971af0a0dbb1df73\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: The member is right to point out that we have had an extremely successful response to date. I think it\u2019s also fair to say that the re-emergence of the virus in New Zealand is not a sign that every system we\u2019ve had in place has failed. It is a sign that it is a tricky virus that no one in the world has successfully been able to keep their protections as being impenetrable, which is why we have to have multiple plans to keep it out but also to respond if and when it comes through. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000045\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00227272be0ac1a64abe9ec11511f77af61b\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 3\u2014Finance\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022 data-id=\u002216a95f6e07a54013be52a6afab0e2d0b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000046\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E3. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002216a95f6e07a54013be52a6afab0e2d0b\u0022\u003EGREG O\u2019CONNOR (Labour\u2014\u014Ch\u0101riu)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he seen on the New Zealand economy in the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022 data-id=\u00229a4bd5c172c748c7b9155cd7e6863ac3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000047\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229a4bd5c172c748c7b9155cd7e6863ac3\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E On Friday, Treasury released the latest New Zealand Activity Index for July. It showed a continued bounce in activity in the economy. Activity in July was about 2 percent higher than the same time last year, its highest annual increase since February 2019. This comes on the back of a 0.6 percent increase in June. Electronic card transactions and traffic movements were particularly strong: both up 5 percent and 10 percent on July last year. This data shows the continued strength of the New Zealand economy and the benefits of eliminating the community transmission so that the economy can operate as freely as possible in the context of a global pandemic. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000048\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002294a5a3cf59ad4ec8a11372e80a69ab05\u0022\u003EGreg O\u2019Connor\u003C/span\u003E: What reports has he seen on the recent performance of different sectors of the New Zealand economy? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000049\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002293ac0bda47cb401881369597acaabe7b\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: BNZ and BusinessNZ released their latest Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) and Performance of Services Index (PSI) for July on Friday and Monday respectively. The seasonally adjusted PMI was 58.8 percent, up 2.6 points from June, and the highest result since April 2018. The key indices of new orders at 67.4 and production at 61.4 showed very positive expansion, although employment did remain weak. Similarly, the PSI for July was 54.3, the same as June, continuing the solid return to expansion seen since previous lockdown restrictions were eased. Both the PMI and PSI results were ahead of many of our international counterparts, including Australia, the US, Japan, and China. This is yet more data which shows the comparative advantage and resilience of the New Zealand economy. While the current resurgence is obviously presenting economic challenges, our strategy of going hard and early to contain outbreaks while cushioning the blow to businesses will put the economy in a better position to bounce back soon. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000050\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226da91e3960e2424da4e3a2475344c27f\u0022\u003EGreg O\u2019Connor\u003C/span\u003E: What reports has he seen on the economic impact of the Government\u2019s strategy of going hard and early against COVID-19? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000051\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f615a84c376d4e949fe0fb639ec724e8\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ve seen a number of recent comments on the economic benefits of the Government\u2019s strategy for managing COVID-19. Economist Shamubeel Eaqub said that when comparing indicators with other countries, \u201CNew Zealand\u2019s experience appears to bear out the benefit of eliminating community transmission.\u201D For example: \u201CWeekly jobs in New Zealand have been tracking 6 per cent higher than Australia. Spending at shops has been tracking higher than the US.\u201D As Mr Eaqub said, \u201CIf we repeat our health and economic experience of the last lockdown, we will come out better off economically, without littering our conscience with lost lives.\u201D Likewise, Westpac economists have said that \u201CCountries that have implemented successful lockdowns\u201D\u2014such as China\u2014\u201Care generally doing \u2026 better \u2026 than countries that have not\u2014illustrating that the \u2018choice\u2019 between \u2018health and economy\u2019 was always a false dichotomy.\u201D I agree with these commentators that the best economic response is a public health response. That is why, once again, we have gone hard and early, and we are well placed to recover from this particular resurgence. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000052\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002204eea31aea5c4be9bbc5f1e7af336596\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 4\u2014Health\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022 data-id=\u002213a029594b5d4b4a94f77190c0409b2b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000053\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E4. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002213a029594b5d4b4a94f77190c0409b2b\u0022\u003EDr SHANE RETI (National\u2014Whangarei)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Health: Did he receive reports on coronavirus testing of staff at Jet Park Hotel, Auckland; if so, from what date? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022 data-id=\u0022cfa8607c8d0949289f70856a2e69b795\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000054\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cfa8607c8d0949289f70856a2e69b795\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Health):\u003C/span\u003E Yes. I\u2019ve had many conversations with officials regarding testing at managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities since becoming Minister of Health. In general, reports and advice were not facility-specific and covered all of the sites. It\u2019s important to note that testing for Jet Park staff has been available since 26 March, when that facility was first stood up. On 22 July, I was advised that rolling testing was being implemented at MIQ facilities, and had commenced at the Jet Park in Auckland and Christchurch on Friday, 10 July. This was the first written report I received specifically describing the testing of Jet Park staff. In addition, as late as 11 August\u2014the day before the current outbreak\u2014my office was advised the programme of testing of asymptomatic MIQ and border workers had been ramped up to commence weekly testing for staff at the quarantine high-risk facilities in Auckland Jet Park and Christchurch, and fortnightly testing for staff working in managed isolation low-risk facilities. Of course, by the time I had the opportunity to read that and ask questions about that, we were already dealing with the current cluster. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000055\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022964b32a385254dada34d29550186166b\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: How many reports or updates did he receive indicating incomplete weekly testing of staff at Jet Park from the date he was told they were being tested weekly? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000056\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ac81488730a442a9ba5e6e02ffa3aa82\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: I did not receive a facility by facility breakdown of the testing of staff. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022de95063e21464adc8980f43bc4b146b9\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: Given he said yesterday that several weeks ago, the Ministry of Health notified him in writing that all staff at Jet Park were being tested weekly, when did he relay that information to Cabinet, if at all? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000058\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228a2f10dcb4874261b0b616a97833f521\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: The 22 July memo that I was referring to was specifically provided in the context of the Cabinet committee meeting that was happening that morning. They were the talking points that I was given by Health for that meeting. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022637c358b4c394673985c4b71ab2d5c0d\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: When did he relay the information on incomplete weekly testing of all staff at Jet Park to Cabinet, if at all? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000060\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022416713eaf49f4be499a241f1e13f1143\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: I think if the member had listened to my last question, it would be very evident that it was on 22 July I reported that to the relevant Cabinet committee. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000061\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dbf212fd11ca4f8293f7573d90cbd744\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: Can I confirm that on 22 July, he notified the Cabinet committee that all staff at Jet Park were being tested weekly and that there was incomplete weekly testing? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000062\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227e9c1889066b4a0d8177f92c4e5c4e26\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: No, I think I have literally just told the member what I told Cabinet on 22 July\u2014that I was advised that rolling testing was being implemented at MIQ facilities and had commenced at the Jet Park in Auckland and Christchurch on Friday, 10 July. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000063\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227c0f00a43360454aa89e388e539cbd19\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: What is the first date that he received Jet Park - specific testing information? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000064\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e5668c4d912c4e5694b3d9b3cc6741a1\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS\u003C/span\u003E: It would have been within the last week, in the context of the investigations around this current cluster. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000065\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b555bd4d83094b00a786639b233668e3\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 5\u2014Social Development\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022 data-id=\u00226fe5a3089b2947d49ff8ff5cd7fd72a4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000066\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003E5. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226fe5a3089b2947d49ff8ff5cd7fd72a4\u0022\u003EPAUL EAGLE (Labour\u2014Rongotai)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Social Development: How is the Government supporting food banks and other community groups to provide food and essential goods in their communities under level 3? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022 data-id=\u002295c411ec28c44637be1b132960867cb9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000067\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002295c411ec28c44637be1b132960867cb9\u0022\u003EHon POTO WILLIAMS (Associate Minister for Social Development)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the Minister for Social Development: The Government has put $32 million towards supporting food banks, food rescue, and community food services with increased demand over the next two years and to support communities to work together to create food-secure communities. Our food banks and community food services have done a great job at supporting New Zealanders and keeping communities well-fed as we respond and recover from COVID-19. This additional funding bolsters their capability and provides greater security and coordination amongst the sector. In Auckland alone, 29 food banks and community food services have been approved funding over the next two years, totalling over $7.5 million. We have heard that many food banks in Auckland have experienced increased demand since the change to alert level 3 was announced, and due to the additional Government support and coordination across food support systems, they feel prepared to respond to the needs of their communities. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000068\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022329eccd077d648bd9a898c727174cf47\u0022\u003EPaul Eagle\u003C/span\u003E: How is the Government making sure that people can access food and face coverings in alert level 3? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000069\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227d37a3d122f548449ed2652f31c6114c\u0022\u003EHon POTO WILLIAMS\u003C/span\u003E: On behalf of the Minister, on top of providing additional funding to support food banks, the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and the New Zealand Food Network are working together to distribute face coverings to individuals and families alongside food parcels. MSD has distributed 2.1 million masks to providers for their use and to distribute with food parcels, including food banks, food rescue, and community food services. Over 700,000 of these have been distributed with the help of the New Zealand Food Network. Yesterday, we also released a food flow chart which shows where people can go if they are having trouble accessing or affording food during levels 2 and 3. This will be available in nine Pacific languages and Te Reo by the end of the week. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000070\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022217f4585-f6ef-408d-9318-8a6b8506920b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022041617975a0843b78fb5689d5e27e866\u0022\u003EPaul Eagle\u003C/span\u003E: How are community groups being supported to respond to needs in their communities following the change in alert levels? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000071\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022343027259f5d4927a276600be1ab8e1f\u0022\u003EHon POTO WILLIAMS\u003C/span\u003E: On behalf of the Minister, the Government opened a $36 million community capability and resilience fund for community groups seeking funding for initiatives that support the rebuild and recovery from COVID-19 over the next two years. This fund has pivoted to provide immediate funding to support groups to respond to people in need in Auckland following the level 3 restrictions. Total funding of $900,000 has been approved already to enable providers to respond to the needs of the community. Those providers include 12 M\u0101ori community providers, four Pacific community providers, and two general community providers. This Government is committed to continuing to support the wellbeing of our people, our wh\u0101nau, and our communities in alert levels 2 and 3, and this funding enables us to support locally led solutions. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000072\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022a6d62100df1644d19d54271aded6368d\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 6\u2014Prime Minister\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022 data-id=\u00225b398a9c70cd409cbbf21b0f8654e223\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000073\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225b398a9c70cd409cbbf21b0f8654e223\u0022\u003EHon JUDITH COLLINS (Leader of the Opposition):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. To the Prime Minister: when she said on 11 August, \u201CWe have a resurgence plan that we will now activate.\u201D, that plan\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u00220bfc5429fddf4068a7e6e954bb265d3c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000074\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220bfc5429fddf4068a7e6e954bb265d3c\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! The member will read the question as per the question sheet. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022 data-id=\u002229a54d4b6dae4f9eb1b09436e2a18a24\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000075\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E6. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002229a54d4b6dae4f9eb1b09436e2a18a24\u0022\u003EHon JUDITH COLLINS (Leader of the Opposition)\u003C/span\u003E to the Prime Minister: Is the resurgence plan she referred to on 11 August publicly available, and is it being rolled out as effectively as she believed it would be? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022 data-id=\u00229e21b7f3345846eaa70575ff1c23d088\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000076\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229e21b7f3345846eaa70575ff1c23d088\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister):\u003C/span\u003E Yes. On 15 July, the Government released a public version of the \u201CStamp It Out\u201D plan. Following the release of that plan, we\u2019ve continued our work to update our precautions and controls. These updated plans have also been made publicly available, once approved by Cabinet, and are all part of our plan to make consistent improvements to our protections and response based on evidence and what we are seeing overseas. The approach taken to the new cases in Auckland is being rolled out consistently with the Government\u2019s planned approach. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000077\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002241bd87fcf2cf480c8c89be170a253862\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: Why hasn\u2019t the Government made that plan widely available to the public? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000078\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002276afda7945784d3ba3436b80bdbffdaf\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: As I just set out, it has. It is publicly available. We have continued with iterative plans, though, since that time which have taken into account some of what we\u2019ve seen offshore. I would reflect, for instance, that the original resurgence plan, which had a number of scenarios sitting behind it, didn\u2019t necessarily take into account what we\u2019ve since seen in Victoria, where smaller, localised lockdowns haven\u2019t been as successful as they would have anticipated. We\u2019ve adjusted some of our settings to incorporate that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000079\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ed1bb41161ac4044ba508205d049f28c\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: Is this the plan? [Holds up a one-page document]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000080\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223bc0dd4f4d1a469cb2a519763a5bc314\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Is that your question\u2014sorry? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000081\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a9f924a06e324090acbacff3a3832f8a\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: Is this the plan? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000082\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c165105fa3db4c19a2282cee8afeaf7f\u0022\u003EHon Grant Robertson\u003C/span\u003E: You sit down after you do the question. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000083\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b1863b87e52143ceb83ee0d053686605\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: If I wasn\u2019t helped by the Minister of Finance, I might have intervened more severely, but I will give the member a warning that she will not do that again, because she does know it\u2019s out of order. She is a very experienced member and she should know better\u2014she does know better. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ce4f2d962c29433192832dd24b42050a\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: What the member has held up is a front-facing document which has sitting behind it a much more comprehensive, detailed plan that went through Cabinet. That\u2019s worked through with the all-of-Government group. That also works through with agencies, including those who have responsibility with deploying the plan. Then, what is released is a summary version which gives an indication of how we would deploy our existing alert level framework, which is very publicly available. It is not the only element of work. We since then have, as I said, gone back to Cabinet to put more detail behind it to reflect what we\u2019ve learnt from the likes of Victoria. So we have had another iteration since that time. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000085\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022970f5fd24e02483092f14f9db3783610\u0022\u003EHon Chris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Prime Minister confirm that when she called a press conference to announce the details of that plan, she was accused of scaremongering? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000086\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002237da5fa55d8d427f84320eae77bdf796\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Apparently, I\u2019m now being accused of not doing enough scaremongering. We did release that plan. I set out our intent there. I also set out that Cabinet would do more detailed work to sit behind it. We did do that detailed work. Agencies involved in deploying our resurgence plan have been involved at every step of the way, and that\u2019s the important part\u2014they have been involved in the decision making. That is why you have seen 123,000 tests, 1,800 contacts traced up to the standard that we expected within 48 hours, and the ability, might I add, to move a whole city to level 3 restrictions in a profoundly short period of time\u2014because we had a plan. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f543b1beb5f4434390e043b1b668a1e4\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: Does the resurgence plan include details as to how people would be able to move across regional borders if they are at different alert levels; if so, does she think it is acceptable for a uniformed paramedic travelling into Auckland for work to be held up for over an hour before being allowed through the Bombay checkpoint? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224ce0d2aab03f47fabf57b045d853f172\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, we did work through the issue of regional boundaries. I even spoke publicly at a press conference around how we would anticipate those being monitored, the fact that they would be based on either boundaries as we have with councils or civil defence boundaries, and that we would look to use the police over the army. We have multiple checkpoints set up around Auckland. Some areas, we\u2019re being able to separate out general flow with freight and others, and I would include emergency services. Some areas, it\u2019s not possible to set up two chains of flow, and, unfortunately, as the police are checking through that people are coming in who are meant to be coming in, it does mean that we may in some areas have backlog. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000089\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c232bef393174bcba19d476f8a68241b\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: Does the resurgence plan include protocols to ensure that essential workers such as medical staff were issued with cards or permits that would allow them to cross regional borders to get to their workplaces? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000090\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002215795784a0da4a99b87bf1c8cc8abdfa\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019d point out to the member that even with guidance on who should and shouldn\u2019t be allowed through\u2014which, of course, is really the parameters of our alert level framework\u2014it is impossible, when you have such a large amount of people coming through to checkpoints, to make it instant. Anything is going to require a physical check by an officer, and that is going to take some time. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000091\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229094c5e3c765484f929ea16c42c2b618\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: Is she confident in her resurgence plan when it took more than 2\u00BD days to get testers on site at the Port of Tauranga following an order that all port workers needed to be tested? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000092\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022532d71a6c740473f8be9345cd6d0e6a3\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: I would reflect that my recollection is we already had health orders from some time ago for our maritime borders that did require, for instance, that anyone who was coming in on a ship, or international crew, had requirements around how long they had to be at sea before they would be allowed to exit the port. We had requirements around social distancing at the port between those who might be part of international crew. We even had requirements around whether or not they were able to access welfare centres. We then supplemented that with requirements around testing if anyone were to try and exit a port. Overlaying that, we\u2019ve put in a testing regime. We have focused on Auckland port particularly, and that\u2019s because of the link between the port and Americold. But I would remind the member that whilst we\u2019ve had several thousand tests now undertaken at Auckland port\u20142,229 tests taken at Auckland port\u2014we are also covering a large number of contractors who are able to access the port, so, obviously, that does take a bit of time. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000093\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e9d60a5e8a2049bbac400afcf22c9798\u0022\u003EHon Judith Collins\u003C/span\u003E: Does her resurgence plan specifically exclude butchers and greengrocers from being able to open their shops, and, if so, why? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000094\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002274c6bbce306e4526b0f57436ca41f327\u0022\u003ERt Hon JACINDA ARDERN\u003C/span\u003E: The member will be well aware that it\u2019s actually our alert level framework that deals with restrictions around who can and cannot operate. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000095\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022e56d9823168a4c5a93d9d3f7e1745a80\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 7\u2014Housing\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022 data-id=\u00224507dd55e0844226b5eca9ee9cac5f19\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000096\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E7. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224507dd55e0844226b5eca9ee9cac5f19\u0022\u003EDr SHANE RETI (National\u2014Whangarei)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Housing: What policies were in place at Rydges Auckland hotel that could have protected New Zealanders, given the Minister of Health\u2019s statement that \u201Cthere was regular testing at the hotel\u201D? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022 data-id=\u00221d49c55f19ab446ab010b082a2eea544\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000097\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221d49c55f19ab446ab010b082a2eea544\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Minister of Housing):\u003C/span\u003E There were a range of policies and processes in place in Rydges Auckland, and, in fact, all managed isolation and quarantine facilities, to protect New Zealanders from the spread of COVID. They are too numerous for me to list in full, but they do include a site selection criteria that ensures that the site is suitable from a health and security perspective; staff training and induction; structured communication for all returnees; and policies on infection prevention controls, including the use of personal protective equipment and physical distancing, daily health checks of all guests and staff, two COVID tests of every returnee, protocols around room cleaning and, in particular, rooms where a returnee has tested positive, including a hospital-grade clean using a Bioquell hydrogen peroxide machine, and protocols that are initiated within the facility if any returnees test positive. We have always been open that these policies and procedures are built on and improved as we progress. As our response has evolved, we have introduced and are ensuring compliance with two tests for all guests, with a negative test required as a condition of release from managed isolation; we\u2019ve introduced enhanced security measures and a 24/7 on-site police presence; and we have introduced testing for all staff on a voluntary basis initially, and all staff testing commenced on 12 August. One hundred percent of all staff have now been tested at the Rydges facility. The member is probably aware and has seen the announcement this afternoon that we have also announced an additional 500 defence personnel for the managed isolation and quarantine facilities, bringing the number at these facilities to 990 in total, and bringing the number of defence personnel involved in COVID-related work to 1,200. I draw the member\u2019s attention to the fact this is the largest deployment since Timor-Leste. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000098\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226293fcb66898403d9cd0361d0dd87333\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: What policy allowed the coronavirus-positive maintenance worker to continue working at the Rydges Hotel for two days despite reportedly having a cough? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000099\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022634e98a57ad94481a8167036bfdd4023\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS\u003C/span\u003E: That was canvassed in the House yesterday. The fact that the worker passed his daily health check, which consisted of his temperature being taken and of him not having a temperature which would be consistent with someone having COVID, and the interview taken around his symptoms\u2014it\u2019s already been traversed that this employee did have an underlying health condition that could explain the symptom he was showing. I think one of the things that we all need to remember is this is an incredibly tricky virus, and there are many people around the world who do not present with symptoms such as a raised temperature but who do go on to test COVID-positive. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000100\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220bfe9582751e43178809fcdc50b5dd25\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: Was it a compulsory policy for all staff to wear a mask at the Rydges on the day the maintenance worker had the cough, and did he wear a mask all the time he was working? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000101\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227998c747aa614f689af2253d221811d3\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS\u003C/span\u003E: It would have been compulsory policy for all staff at the facility to wear a mask where they were in a situation where it was possible that they would be breaching 2-metre physical distancing requirements. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223a97602c52704e3aa87d5c051bf88f7e\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: Did the maintenance worker at the Rydges and the genome-linked - positive woman ever use the same communal spaces, and, if so, how much time separated them? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000103\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223c1f6833884f4c7fa17ce798db740a94\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS\u003C/span\u003E: All our investigations to date have indicated they were not in the same communal spaces. We have used a variety of methods to track this. We have looked at key card data around the hotel to track movements. We\u2019ve also examined CCTV footage from the hotel. There are two important facts to realise with this: one, the returnee who entered the hotel on 28 July and was transferred to the Jet Park on 31 July only left her room on a couple of occasions, and that is coupled with the fact that the worker in question we\u2019re talking about\u2014a maintenance staff worker\u2014is not generally in areas where returnees are. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000104\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f8ecf7d0925d42fba105fd91a52bfe8f\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: Did the maintenance worker wear a mask all the time he was working at the Rydges? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000105\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002271416acf245947c09ddca4b15fee9ea1\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS\u003C/span\u003E: He would have worn a mask when he was required to wear a mask, when the policies dictated that he needed to\u2014if he were to be in what was deemed to be a close contact with someone. But I reiterate the point that I made to that member that this was a worker that was not in routine contact with returnees. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000106\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223e873c44b90c4759906b073e01f1294e\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: Does CCTV footage and swipe card records at the Rydges account for all activities relevant to this line of inquiry? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000107\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e3738f650f064413a1f4566c311ad0c0\u0022\u003EHon Dr MEGAN WOODS\u003C/span\u003E: We have made really good progress looking at that. I think the fact that the returnee in question was only out of her room for a very short period of time has made the tracking much easier throughout the hotel. It\u2019s something we take incredibly seriously\u2014that we do have two cases that are genomically linked but that we have not been able to find a common link, either a person-to-person link or a surface-to-person link. So we continue to look at all the options and all the avenues of investigation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000108\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00220ffd2dbc7e974957935d9b96791f4e86\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 8\u2014M\u0101ori Development\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022 data-id=\u002286e765be60af4961a3e9bfad3f74d769\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000109\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003E8. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002286e765be60af4961a3e9bfad3f74d769\u0022\u003EKIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for M\u0101ori Development: What interventions have been implemented specifically for the M\u0101ori and Pacific COVID-19 response to address the re-emergence of community transmission? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022 data-id=\u002292a17037c314474fb855958bf10667af\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000110\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002292a17037c314474fb855958bf10667af\u0022\u003EHon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister for M\u0101ori Development):\u003C/span\u003E To date, the response, primarily led by the Minister for Wh\u0101nau Ora and supported by Te Puni K\u014Dkiri, has enabled Wh\u0101nau Ora commissioning agencies and other Government agencies to target their funding support to ensure the most vulnerable wh\u0101nau in T\u0101maki-makau-rau are able to have their needs met. Community-based assessment centre (CBAC) testing stations have been established across T\u0101maki in several pop-up sites in areas that are more vulnerable to the profile of potential spread. Food hubs have been established in M\u0101ori and Pasifika communities, and for the Pasifika community in particular there is an after-hours support service as well as extra support to those ainga in quarantine or self-isolation. We also have M\u0101ori wardens working with New Zealand Police at some of the Auckland regional checkpoints. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000111\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226c6bff6c4c2b461e82b7f9ae0349e2dd\u0022\u003EKiritapu Allan\u003C/span\u003E: Have the CBAC centres provided for improved access for wh\u0101nau within M\u0101ori and Pasifika communities, and how successful have testing rates been amongst these target groups? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000112\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fac7788301f1488a8f64a74bd0343aa9\u0022\u003EHon NANAIA MAHUTA\u003C/span\u003E: Yes. Within hours of the announcement of COVID-19\u2019s re-emergence, Auckland Wh\u0101nau Ora commissioning agencies and their partners activated their resurgence plans, setting up testing clinics alongside DHBs and other providers. Te Pou Matakana, which is a Wh\u0101nau Ora commissioning agency in Auckland, is operating three pop-up testing stations across T\u0101maki-makau-rau to support wh\u0101nau to access testing facilities. In response to the congestion at Druces Road testing station, Te Puea Marae stood up a pop-up testing station outside the marae on Monday, 17 August\u2014again, to alleviate pressure across the city and provide access to testing. If we look at the testing taken between 12 to 18 August, as at 5 p.m., roughly, the percentage for M\u0101ori of total tests taken equated to 16.1 percent, and for the Pasifika community, 23.7 percent. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000113\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220dd0a670033146d88ddd06be9b9a5ac1\u0022\u003EKiritapu Allan\u003C/span\u003E: Are DHBs working collaboratively with M\u0101ori and Pasifika community health providers to improve the local response, and what has that involved? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000114\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c1ce2b41929b43e9bf127db12dd62a4e\u0022\u003EHon NANAIA MAHUTA\u003C/span\u003E: Firstly, I want to acknowledge the efforts of the incident management team in the Northern Region Health Coordination Centre, who are working hard to ensure that the response for M\u0101ori and Pasifika communities across all Auckland DHBs is coordinated alongside other agencies to connect with wh\u0101nau and ainga and to keep communities informed with consistent and accurate public health information. They are allocating resources across their networks to meet this demand on a number of fronts, such as access to pop-up testing sites and also the provision of masks. We have testing sites, for example, in Tuakau, Pukekohe, Karaka, and also in the broader Auckland area through a mobile clinic. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000115\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a8cab3e3-b023-4ce7-9f4b-2c4137029057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224930829248244c48b127096569801d8b\u0022\u003EKiritapu Allan\u003C/span\u003E: Has the rate of community testing and contact tracing for M\u0101ori and Pasifika wh\u0101nau supported the effective isolation of the Auckland cluster, and what further steps are necessary? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000116\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229dbbd6d746ca4842a9bbc576d220fbd7\u0022\u003EHon NANAIA MAHUTA\u003C/span\u003E: The testing regime has enabled more tests to be taken across vulnerable communities nationwide and, in this instance, M\u0101ori and Pasifika communities. Nearly 30,000 tests have been made in M\u0101ori and Pasifika communities in the past week. This has bolstered the investigation into the latest Auckland coronavirus cluster and has been instrumental in tracing contacts across the city. As stated by the Director-General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, our people are not the problem; the virus is the problem\u2014people are the solution. The Government is encouraging wh\u0101nau and ainga to get the test if you\u2019re sick or in the targeted contact-tracing group, keep a record of where you\u2019ve been, horoia \u014D ringaringa\u2014wash your hands\u2014wear a mask, and remain vigilant. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000117\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022de3f9293cd254e9d8b50d796cae85d70\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 9\u2014Finance\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022 data-id=\u00221b5ab03015dc4130b974f56588229e8e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000118\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E9. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221b5ab03015dc4130b974f56588229e8e\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Finance: Is he confident that the Government\u2019s economic policies and actions are providing the clarity that businesses need and as much certainty as possible? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022 data-id=\u0022f0465f6d99df45279cabf51c4a8007aa\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000119\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f0465f6d99df45279cabf51c4a8007aa\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E I am. Throughout our response to this global pandemic, the Government\u2019s economic policies and actions like the wage subsidy, business tax breaks, and our public health response have been designed to give businesses clarity and certainty that will help support them through this one-in-100-year shock, and go hard and early to stamp out COVID-19 so that activity can return to normal as quickly as possible. We have never wavered from this strategy, despite calls from some quarters to reduce restrictions, open the border, close the border, spend more, spend less, and other general flip-flops. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000120\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b20e5aebb8e54010b2e94141340fb13e\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Does he stand by the Government\u2019s guidance to business: \u201CIf you are receiving the COVID-19 Wage Subsidy, you must try your hardest to pay the employee named in your application at least 80% of their usual wages. If that isn\u2019t possible, you need to pay at least the subsidy rate\u201D? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000121\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c43f7270ac1d4f1f910f05dd48ca410d\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: That is indeed the current advice. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000122\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228c211c0b8c6e476ab6569f61c22661e3\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Is he aware of a recent determination by the Employment Relations Authority that an employer who followed the Government\u2019s guidance and agreed with employees for them to take an 80 percent pay where that reduced their pay below the minimum wage was, in fact, in breach of the Minimum Wage Act and liable for back-pay? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000123\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221bbb43e276b640b6a5caca4331307f87\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: The Minimum Wage Act, obviously, is the law of the land. It still applies. I\u2019m advised by the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety that they did not follow the guidance. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000124\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fd9126441f844ead9f0f28007d7731ac\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: So does he believe that the Government\u2019s guidance to businesses which says that you can, if you need to, pay at least the subsidy rate has potentially put some businesses in breach of the minimum wage law and potentially made them liable for considerable back-pay? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000125\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220e79c7b86c9c4287ad9bd448ad0e838a\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: No, I don\u2019t accept that. All employers around New Zealand are aware of their obligations under the law. If they follow the law and follow the guidance, they will be fine. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000126\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d26519c0efab44e7a4fcd71c4d4d3f48\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: The Government\u2019s COVID website says that if a business needs to, it can pay just the full-time workers the subsidy rate, but that rate is well below the minimum wage, and the Employment Relations Authority says the Government\u2019s advice, essentially, is wrong and that the minimum wage must be paid\u2014isn\u2019t there a problem? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000127\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d15d1a954a064889bab378914449cf6c\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: I answered a number of questions about this during the period of time when the first wage subsidy was put into place. Employers are well aware of the need to follow the law. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222b200b1df38346899f16580a1281367f\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Well, what has he done since then to tidy up this situation so that businesses have certainty that they won\u2019t have to make large back payments if the Employment Relations Authority\u2019s determination is upheld? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000129\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c6056c5c1a8c45728363afb3e767c60d\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: I can only repeat the answer that I\u2019ve got: employers who have entered into any type of arrangement with their employees know that they need to follow the law. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000130\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a4e2cf131886486a90021d405d86a308\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Does he not agree that the current situation is very unclear and that many businesses that are struggling to survive are faced with a great deal of uncertainty about a potential liability? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000131\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a1ab58ae5e174ae8b90ca7cb4fc31492\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: No, I don\u2019t accept that that is the level of uncertainty that the member is describing. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000132\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bc501b9b71d34da78f4f779ac6556fe2\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Well, has he received any advice on the number of businesses liable if the Employment Relations Authority\u2019s determination became binding? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000133\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002206a4f9fd51d54c679b5f8160f234f215\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ve received no such advice, but I\u2019m confident that employers in New Zealand are aware of their obligations under the law. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000134\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002272df67f1125c47b0828c133f4183ca3f\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: So he sees no problem with the COVID-19 website telling employers that if they need to, they can pay employees at the subsidy rate, which is less than the minimum wage, and a determination from the Employment Relations Authority that that is not the case\u2014you need to pay the minimum wage? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000135\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226aff0bfdc85747fc85525928fe2501d2\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! We\u2019ll put a \u201Cdoes\u201D in front of the question to make it a question. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000136\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022db5bd74b40394121b85abb1e9ab62742\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: Throughout all of the assistance that the Government has provided, it is clear that employers must meet their legal obligations. We\u2019ve had the same discussion around the stance of some employers to say that employees need to use up their annual leave. All of these matters were dealt with when we went through this earlier. Employers in New Zealand are well aware of their legal obligations. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a6e54e13f9474027bca115d809ac48ee\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Well, is he aware that there is a difference of $170 a week between the wage subsidy and the minimum wage? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000138\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225f37e5be32824cf397f67d08ff0494f1\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: We\u2019ve all been aware for some time of the rate of the wage subsidy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000139\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002286b16048ab1540208d112b34a75f0032\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: So how can a business pay employees at the rate of the wage subsidy and still be actually paying the appropriate minimum wage? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000140\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dc3abe3b547041bdace59b6fe1a93523\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: The rate of the wage subsidy is set at $585 per week. Everyone knows that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000141\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221a34a1025da4494287b03a299a94619d\u0022\u003EHon Paul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: Well, is he confident that businesses can operate with due certainty when they have this very vague situation hanging over their head and the potential of having to pay back-pay to bridge the gap between the two if they were following the correct advice from the website, which says that if they needed to, they could pay just at the wage subsidy rate? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000142\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f45136673d2546e0b6ef443d8ec1d6bb\u0022\u003EHon GRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: As I\u2019ve said numerous times in this answer, most employers in New Zealand\u2014good employers\u2014are very well aware of the minimum wage. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000143\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022a46e2cd37a4b4251b0f5f4e026895bfe\u0022\u003EQuestion No. 10\u2014Justice\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022 data-id=\u002283bf6fd2d07e461b9f2b4fe444948366\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000144\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E10. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002283bf6fd2d07e461b9f2b4fe444948366\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader\u2014Green)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Justice: What, if any, additional funding or support has the Government provided to the Electoral Commission to run the election in light of COVID-19? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022 data-id=\u00223219375a48864cbd86b6aaf8d79903c8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000145\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223219375a48864cbd86b6aaf8d79903c8\u0022\u003EHon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Justice):\u003C/span\u003E In June, the Government provided an additional $28.7 million of funding, on top of the roughly $139.6 million of funding to run this year\u2019s general election. This funding supports the Electoral Commission to deliver the election safely and includes funding for property rental, additional staff, supplies and postage, enhanced hygiene supplies, technology changes, and more communications. The Government is also discussing with the Electoral Commission what further support they need to deliver a safe, accessible, and credible election in light of the second wave of COVID-19 in Auckland. As the Prime Minister has said, the Government is committed to ensuring we have a well-run election that gives all voters the best chance to receive all the information they need about parties and candidates and delivers certainty for the future, and I\u2019m confident that the Electoral Commission will be able to deliver this. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000146\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002284a7e16ce3ce4ca291b9bc18db0e958d\u0022\u003EHon James Shaw\u003C/span\u003E: What advice has he had about the commission\u2019s preparedness for running the 2020 election? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000147\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229662309ddfb6484181724ebea439b088\u0022\u003EHon ANDREW LITTLE\u003C/span\u003E: Since April, I\u2019ve received regular briefings from the Electoral Commission on their planning for the general election in a COVID-19 environment. I\u2019m also aware the commission has kept political parties informed about pending arrangements. The Electoral Commission has planned for a range of scenarios, including the possibility of an election period where the country is at alert level 2 and with some areas of the country at alert level 3. The commission\u2019s approach has been to minimise congestion in voting places by extending the advance voting period and increasing the number of advance voting places operating on the weekend before the election, increasing the number of voting places, and using large, enclosed voting places to support physical distancing and hygiene measures such as making hand sanitation available. I might also point out I am aware of a suggestion that maybe the Electoral Commission could consider drive-in voting in the way that we do with community-based assessment centres at the moment. Postal voting is available for people who cannot go to a voting place, for example, because of illness, age, or disability. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000148\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022500ea20c5500444badb055cc4df82b93\u0022\u003EHon James Shaw\u003C/span\u003E: What changes, if any, has the Government made to electoral law in this term to make it easier for people to vote at the 2020 general election? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000149\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b5b007cd3b774a5e89c16b0ba0303342\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! I think the member might want to rephrase the question. He knows the difference between the Government and the Parliament. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000150\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002232f3107d1d04442f9f57671525abf0fb\u0022\u003EHon James Shaw\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry; I beg your pardon. What changes, if any, has Parliament made to the electoral law this term to make it easier for people to vote at the 2020 general election? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000151\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f349f548c78a4bbc9f69c6dbb116c30b\u0022\u003EHon ANDREW LITTLE\u003C/span\u003E: Parliament has passed a number of measures to make it easier to vote in this year\u2019s general election. This includes changes to the Electoral Act to allow New Zealanders to enrol and vote on election day and to allow supermarkets and malls to be used as voting places if the commission chooses to do so. In addition to what Parliament has done, the Government has also made a number of temporary changes to electoral regulations that were requested by the Electoral Commission to assist in delivering the election in a COVID-19 environment. These temporary changes make remote voting easier, which therefore gives New Zealanders confidence in participating in the election safely. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000152\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022be51389075d849dc8a675c965c934845\u0022\u003EHon James Shaw\u003C/span\u003E: What advice has he received about the Electoral Commission\u2019s key messages to voters at this election? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000153\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002207adab61b67f4682aceba5a15709b6fd\u0022\u003EHon ANDREW LITTLE\u003C/span\u003E: I have received no specific advice on the Electoral Commission\u2019s key messages\u2014that is, after all, a matter for the Electoral Commission. But I have seen through the media that the Electoral Commission has advised and is advising New Zealanders to enrol early, to vote early, and to vote close to home\u2014not to be confused with \u201CVote early, vote often\u201D. I note that there will be more voting places open during voting, and larger venues will be used to minimise queues and allow room for physical distancing. Other ways of voting will be available to those who can\u2019t go to a voting place. I encourage those wanting to know more to go to elections.nz. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000154\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000155\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002241eb7ac2d1ef4ebcabd92f79cf7cbd30\u0022\u003EGeneral Debate\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000157\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00227f64178d21354b58b2597bd002f978f0\u0022\u003EGeneral Debate\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022 data-id=\u00222b0a6970f06248ce8bf389b0b9ddb611\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000156\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222b0a6970f06248ce8bf389b0b9ddb611\u0022\u003EHon JUDITH COLLINS (Leader of the Opposition):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. I move, That the House take note of miscellaneous business.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000158\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003EWell, another week and another working group set up today with this Government, another vote of no confidence in her Ministers from the Prime Minister. Bring back Heather Simpson and Sir Brian Roche\u2014that\u2019s what we said. We\u2019re coming back to the Helen Clark era, and we can see what\u2019s happened is that there is no confidence in her Ministers to sort out this COVID-19 re-emergence, this mess that we\u2019ve been given as the people of New Zealand. You know, it\u2019s five months since New Zealand went into lockdown the first time, and in five months New Zealanders would have expected that we would have a Government putting all its efforts into making sure that this virus did not resurge back into the community. After all, we\u2019ve been told that the borders were secure. After all, we were told that there was a COVID tracing app that would help us all, this COVID tracing app which, until this last week, around 6 percent of New Zealanders were using\u2014this COVID tracing app. We\u2019re all using it now because we have no confidence in the Government. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000159\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003EIt was 104 days from 9 April when the Government got the\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000160\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b278209252b54b6292cb7473bbfac461\u0022\u003EGreg O\u2019Connor\u003C/span\u003E: You\u2019re scaremongering.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000161\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cf9ecf9f97c740d798ebfe1faeceb6a7\u0022\u003EHon JUDITH COLLINS\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014right to do mandatory testing at\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000162\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225d0301f6dc6a4e16beca87e39e1c1059\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! [Interruption] Order! The member will resume her seat. The member will not bring me into the debate. He will stand, withdraw, and apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000163\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b85f64934e034a11a0e1390ed5699d10\u0022\u003EGreg O\u2019Connor\u003C/span\u003E: I withdraw and apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000164\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f1307e2fb5e84fc7a4c4f325f46c81e3\u0022\u003EHon JUDITH COLLINS\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Mr Speaker. So 104 days from 9 April, when mandatory testing was allowed, to 22 July, when Cabinet decided to get around to doing its job\u2014only 104 days. That then gave the health officials nine days before the first of the resurgence of COVID-19 in the community became known to New Zealanders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000165\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003EWhat\u2019s happened since? Well, most of New Zealand is now in a level 2 lockdown. That\u2019s one of the reasons that Parliament today is relatively quiet and not the usual rowdy place that it is. But the other thing that\u2019s happened is Auckland\u2014the entire Auckland region, 1.7 million New Zealanders\u20141.7 million New Zealanders, representing a third of the population in this country, have been locked down in a level 3 lockdown. That means that businesses are closed. That means that children are not at school. That means that universities are not operating. That means, to those people who care, that Auckland is now, and therefore New Zealand, losing $75 million a day\u2014not a week, not a year; a day\u2014and 25 jobs lost every day because of this lockdown, this level 3 lockdown. That\u2019s what\u2019s happening, and those are not figures brought together or estimated by the National Party\u2019s economic unit; those are figures put together by the head economist for the Hon Phil Goff\u2019s Auckland Council\u2014the former leader of the Labour Party. That\u2019s their figures.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000166\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003EToday, we\u2019ve heard nothing from the Prime Minister about a resurgence plan other than this\u2014this document\u2014plus something that comes in behind it. It\u2019s such a widely read document that the Parliamentary Library today could find no evidence of it at all after a search. So it wasn\u2019t just that we couldn\u2019t find it; it\u2019s the fact that the Parliamentary Library, which can find pretty much anything if it\u2019s published, couldn\u2019t find it. Today, we heard nothing from the Prime Minister about why it is that greengrocers and butchers are still closed, why it is that essential health workers weren\u2019t issued with passes to move through borders, why it is that people have been waiting, in some cases, four hours in traffic, stuck on the Bombay Hills trying to get through the hard land border that the police have been told to set up. Nowhere in that was there any preparation\u2014104 days that Cabinet gave itself to think about whether or not they would require mandatory testing of border-facing staff. That\u2019s your front-line workers\u2014104 days. Last night, we heard from the Unite Union saying, actually, you shouldn\u2019t have policy by press release. We heard from the Prime Minister today that there was an expectation that something would happen, that there would be mandatory testing. How can there be an expectation when nobody is checking the checkers? Where was the Minister of Health on this?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000167\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003EI was asked today by the media a very pertinent question. It was: should the Minister of Health be gone? Who should be the Minister of Health? It wasn\u2019t a difficult question for me to answer. It was really, really obvious. There should be a new Minister of Health, and that Minister of Health is not Dr Megan Woods. It\u2019s not Nanaia Mahuta. It\u2019s not Kelvin Davis. The Minister of Health should be Dr Shane Reti, the only person qualified in this House and the only person who can assist in this matter\u2014the person that we will choose when we lead the Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022 data-id=\u0022dee141bffabc4cbf8b618324d7b4b5e2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000168\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022dee141bffabc4cbf8b618324d7b4b5e2\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Health):\u003C/span\u003E I\u2019m very tempted to almost endorse the last comment Judith Collins made. I think she should listen to Dr Shane Reti a little more often\u2014when he said that there was no such thing as a 100 percent foolproof plan to protect New Zealand from COVID-19. Dr Reti is right, and it\u2019s what the Government has been saying since the end of the last lockdown. We\u2019ve been telling New Zealanders of the need to remain vigilant. We have been putting in place plans to ensure that, if we were confronted with COVID-19 again, we could rise to the occasion, as we did the first time around. And what did we get from the Opposition with regard to those plans? We got accused of scaremongering\u2014all sorts of conspiracy theories about what did we know that they didn\u2019t know, when we were telling New Zealanders that we simply needed to be prepared. A virus is a virus.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003ELet me just draw an analogy, because one of the most obvious solutions\u2014apparently we should just ban the virus. If we\u2019re mean to the virus, it won\u2019t come into New Zealand! That seems to be the implication from at least one member on the other side. If you raise your eyebrows in a sufficient kind of a way towards the virus, it won\u2019t dare cross the border. But let\u2019s just be really clear about that: for the last several decades, including the nine years of the last National Government, we had a zero tolerance to biosecurity incursions in New Zealand. How did that work out for us? There were 199 biosecurity incursions under the last Government despite their stated zero-tolerance approach for that\u2014including Mycoplasma bovis, which has cost the country millions. That happened under their watch. If there was a way to make our border 100 percent foolproof when it comes to viruses and other things that might want to try and get into the country, every Government would have done it by now. The thing is there is no such thing as a risk-free strategy here.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000170\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003EI do want to again remind New Zealanders that our \u201Cgo hard, go early\u201D strategy delivers dividends. New Zealanders know that because we had the longest period without community transmission of COVID-19 of just about any country in the world. New Zealanders can see that the sacrifices we are making right now, as of today, are worth it because we can get on top of the virus and we can stamp it out. We will do that again to ensure that we get the freedom back that New Zealanders are looking for. We will do that in several ways. First of all, we will ensure there is extensive testing: 136,000 tests have been processed since 12 August; all border and managed isolation facility workers are being tested; the vast majority of managed isolation and quarantine facility workers have been tested and they have produced negative results. The second line of defence is our contact tracing: where a positive case is identified, we identify all their contacts, we get in contact with those people, and we make sure they are isolated. I can give the House an update that there are 1,983 close contacts identified to date, and 1,861 of those have already been contacted. That is what our system is designed to do, and it is delivering as it is intended.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000171\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003EOutside of the health system, we can support New Zealanders whose lives and livelihoods have been disrupted by this latest COVID-19 incursion. We\u2019ve extended the wage subsidy\u2014we acknowledge it\u2019s tough economic going out there. We\u2019ve put extra support in place for students whose learning has been disrupted by COVID-19, including restarting the very popular learning from home TV; distributing more laptops to students in Auckland, particularly those who are studying towards NCEA; and working with our senior secondary schools to ensure that those students who need to be on site for practical learning can do so in a safe way that is consistent with other workplaces that are able to operate under level 3.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000172\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003EThroughout the response to COVID-19, the Government has been accused of many, many things. We\u2019ve been told; we\u2019ve been given much advice: first, we should be more like Australia\u2014maybe not; then, we should be more like Sweden\u20146,000 people died in Sweden; then, we should be more like South Korea; then, we should open the border to Australia and open the border to China with urgency; we should allow international students back into our country as soon as possible. All of those suggestions have come from the Opposition. At every step along this way, when they have been asked to make judgments, they\u2019ve made judgments that have been proven to be wrong. On this side of the House we have been working hard to stamp out COVID-19. We have taken a cautious approach.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000173\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003EFinally, it is a bit rich for the Opposition to be accusing me of not moving fast enough to make testing mandatory when they opposed the law change that allows me to do that and called it the greatest infringement on human rights this country has ever seen. The Opposition\u2014every time they\u2019ve been asked to make a judgment on COVID19\u2014have got it wrong.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u0022475e86b8e96a46a596a059e7b03da23d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000174\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022475e86b8e96a46a596a059e7b03da23d\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE (Deputy Leader\u2014National):\u003C/span\u003E That was an interesting speech from the Minister of Health. It was consistent with the theme started by the Prime Minister in the House this afternoon, called: let\u2019s rewrite history\u2014let\u2019s rewrite history. The Minister stands there and says that the Opposition have made various suggestions about what might happen in the environment that we are currently dealing with. Every one of those suggestions was based on the false optimism of the Government\u2014every one of them. The idea that we should open our borders to Australia\u2014that was the Prime Minister going to Australia, meeting with Mr Morrison, and talking about the Australian bubble. It was the Prime Minister who talked about the Pacific bubble. Those are the sorts of optimistic statements that it would be reasonable not only for the Opposition, who get told things only a few minutes before they happen, but everybody in New Zealand to expect, because if, in fact, the border was secure, we would not be in this position right now.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000175\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003EThe Minister says, \u201CWell, it\u2019s not possible to have 100 percent prevention of this virus coming in at the border.\u201D Well, let\u2019s be clear: it has come in because there are gaping great holes in the process at the border, and they\u2019ve been there for a very long time. What\u2019s more, Cabinet seems to want to say to New Zealand, the Prime Minister wants to say to New Zealand, the health Minister wants to say to New Zealand, \u201CWe were told by officials that it was all OK and that the testing was going on.\u201D Well, 107 days\u2014107 days\u2014it took them to ask the right questions. That is not a Government that is showing any kind of leadership at all.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000176\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003EPerhaps the best thing that came out of the Minister of Health\u2019s speech today was finally the admission that this virus, this incursion in Auckland, has occurred because of a border transgression. That\u2019s the first time we\u2019ve heard it. Up till now, one of my colleagues described it\u2014and I don\u2019t mean any offence by saying this, although at the moment pretty much anything I say causes offence, but I don\u2019t mean any offence by saying that. Up until now, the Government\u2019s view has been that this was an immaculate event. That somehow this virus just\u2014well, that this virus just appeared from nowhere. It got into the system somewhere, it didn\u2019t come across the border, and there\u2019s been no possibility of tracing it. That should worry every New Zealander\u2014that it has not been traced, that there is no source apparently at the moment. Well, if there\u2019s no source, and it could pop up at any time, how on earth do we get out of the current alert level situations with any degree of confidence? That is a big worry, because at the moment there will be people in this country who are losing their jobs, there\u2019ll be businesses that are going to the wall, and there\u2019ll be thousands of others, as I\u2019ve said so many times, wondering what happens when the wage subsidy ends.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000177\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s great that it\u2019s been extended\u2014no one\u2019s arguing against that; it\u2019s what has to happen in the current environment\u2014but there\u2019s got to be some end play somewhere, and there just is none. And for the Government to say, \u201CWell, we don\u2019t know where it came from.\u201D, \u201CWe can\u2019t trace the source.\u201D, \u201CThere is no connection.\u201D, \u201CWe\u2019re doing all of the various genome tracing, etc.\u201D, \u201CWe know that there\u2019s similar types of virus, but we don\u2019t know how they\u2019re connected.\u201D\u2014that is not a comforting message to be giving New Zealanders. And for the finance Minister to say, \u201CWell, don\u2019t worry about it, because the cost of this is just coming out of the $14 billion that we set aside from the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund.\u201D\u2014every dollar in that fund is borrowed, every dollar. So it\u2019s not as if there\u2019s a pot of cash sitting there that\u2019s being dipped into; it\u2019s debt. And while we would quite openly say we do have to look after New Zealanders who are in threatened circumstances, there has to be a look at what the endgame is.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000178\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003ESo we look at the resurgence plan. We\u2019re told today by the Prime Minister it\u2019s a work in progress. They hope to have it before Cabinet soon. They\u2019ve got an A4 paper that goes out with about six or seven paragraphs on it, and they\u2019re saying, \u201CThat\u2019s the plan, and we\u2019re following it.\u201D Well, the plan so far has let COVID-19 through the border, it\u2019s let it get into the community, and then it has not been able to be traced, because the tracing system is not strong enough. If there was any optimism shown by this side of the House about what New Zealand might be able to do as we progressed from the last bout of COVID-19 in this country, it\u2019s because the Government was relentlessly optimistic about the situation, and, therefore, every New Zealander was optimistic about the current situation. Anyone who says that we\u2019re wrong is themselves wrong.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022 data-id=\u0022f9372f98a6f24ad2a8f5b5d750d6678b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000179\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f9372f98a6f24ad2a8f5b5d750d6678b\u0022\u003EHon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Justice):\u003C/span\u003E That speech by that member, the Hon Gerry Brownlee, pretty much epitomises the state of the National Party Opposition till now. There he was telling a story, and we were waiting for the punchline, and he didn\u2019t have a punchline. That is pretty much where the National Party is at now. Nothing they say or do lands with any relevance to New Zealand at the moment. I want to say that this Government can take considerable pride in rising to some of the greatest challenges that this small but well-formed little country at the bottom of the world has had to face for a long, long time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000180\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003EPut aside the rebuilding of the health system, the education system, and actually getting our economy back on track, actually rising to the challenge of COVID-19, like every other country in the world, has posed an enormous challenge to this Government and to this country. New Zealanders have risen to the challenge, with the outstanding leadership of the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. But it hasn\u2019t been easy. This Government has provided a rapid, a focused, a science and evidence - based, and a resolute response to the arrival of that vicious little virus in our beautiful little country, and we have been more successful than just about every other country in the world.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000181\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003ENow, let\u2019s be clear: there is no room for backslapping and self-congratulation. That\u2019s why this Government has been very clear in the last few weeks and months that we have to be ready for the possibility of community transmission. Even though we had got to the point where we knew we had eliminated it, the risk was very real and it was still there. But what did the Opposition say when we pointed out that risk? What did they say when there were shots of the Director-General of Health, Ashley Bloomfield, taking a test? What did they say when the Government started talking about getting ready for masks\u2014\u201CYou might want to think about wearing masks.\u201D? They said it was scaremongering. They said there was no basis for it, because somehow they knew best. Just like when they said, \u201CDon\u2019t close the borders. Open the borders.\u201D\u2014\u201COh, whoops, we got that wrong. Close the borders again.\u201D Then they said, \u201CCan we have more students?\u201D\u2014\u201COh no, we don\u2019t want the students anymore.\u201D Then they said, \u201CWill you stop borrowing money.\u201D\u2014\u201COh, we\u2019ll borrow money. You can\u2019t borrow money. We won\u2019t borrow money. You\u2014\u201D Oh, they got so mixed up. They don\u2019t know what to do. They have not had a coherent, rational response all the way through. That is the state of the Opposition. No wonder Gerry Brownlee forgot his punchline. He\u2019s got no punch any more\u2014he\u2019s got no punch any more.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000182\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003EThis is it\u2014the reality is, and we have been on notice\u2014we have to be vigilant about the possibility of this virus returning, and it has returned. Look at the response we\u2019ve had: instant, rapid, focused, determined, just as we did the first time, and we are now starting to see the dividends being paid. Yes, there are people who are doing it tough, businesses who are doing it tough, families and communities who are doing it tough. I think this resurgence\u2014the re-arrival of COVID-19 in Auckland and some of those communities in Auckland\u2014has probably had a harder effect on people psychologically and emotionally than anybody sort of ever expected to begin with. But there is support there and there is understanding, and that\u2019s why the messages from the Prime Minister and from the Minister of Health, the Hon Chris Hipkins, each day, and through the Director-General of Health, Ashley Bloomfield, and others is so important. There is one place where you can get accurate information, and that is from those sources and from Government sources.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000183\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003ENot the kind of conspiracy theory muckraking that we\u2019ve seen from the Opposition\u2014none of that sort of nonsense. That is not helping. At a time when communities and families are feeling fragile and are needing reassurance, going down that path is simply not helping; and, in fact, it\u2019s the opposite: it is quite destructive. There is one ray of light on members opposite, and that is Dr Shane Reti, who at least seems to understand the challenge that this Government is trying to rise to and that there will never be a perfect response, but there has to be a response based on science, based on evidence, and that has people at its heart. I\u2019ll come to that point. Like everything this Government does, it is about the wellbeing of New Zealanders\u2014the wellbeing of New Zealanders collectively\u2014doing the right response and making sure people are looked after and taken care of. That\u2019s what we have sought to do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000184\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve tightened up the borders. We\u2019ve had 40,000 people coming across the New Zealand border just since the lockdown\u201440,000 people\u2014and we\u2019ve had one or two escapes and we\u2019ve had one or two very strange people trying to break into those facilities, but, actually, 40,000 people have gone through the isolation and quarantine facilities and come out the other side. That\u2019s been a hell of a challenge for a country like ours, with the facilities that we\u2019ve got, getting the logistics right, getting the personnel in place to enable that to happen so that Kiwis abroad can come home and know that they will be safe and enjoy the safety that this country offers. That\u2019s what we have been doing\u2014that\u2019s what we have been doing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000185\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003ESo I think this is a time when we\u2019ve all been somewhat shaken out of what looked like a cruise mode\u2014notwithstanding the warnings the Government was giving about being ready and being prepared. People have now understood why it is important that we take the right health measures, that we get our masks ready, that we do the right thing. But we are not going to go into the flip-flop mode of the Opposition, and say one thing one week and say the opposite the next\u2014go down a conspiracy theory sort of rabbit hole one day and then come out the next and say, \u201CNo, we didn\u2019t really mean to be conspiracy theorising, but, actually, what are they hiding from us?\u201D That\u2019s what we\u2019ve had. It hasn\u2019t been reassuring to the public, and that\u2019s what New Zealanders need and deserve most right now.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022 data-id=\u0022c35a341329d541fa88c99558ce30b784\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000186\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c35a341329d541fa88c99558ce30b784\u0022\u003EDr SHANE RETI (National\u2014Whangarei):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. New Zealanders did their part. We all did our part. We\u2019re asking the Government, \u201CDid you do your part?\u201D We believed. We stayed at home. We did our best to keep our businesses running. We did our best to keep people\u2019s jobs. People missed their operations, their diagnostic tests, their school exams. We all did our part. Has the Government done theirs?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000187\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003EYou see, we believed we were all part of a team\u2014a team of 5 million. Well, the team of 5 million turned up and, on game day, the coach didn\u2019t have the right gear. We all trained during the week. We all went to practice. We all understood the plan. On game day, the coach didn\u2019t have the right gear and hadn\u2019t started the clock. When we were told about Jet Park, our highest quarantine facility for positive cases, we were told all staff were being tested weekly\u2014all staff were being tested weekly. Now we know they weren\u2019t, and, yet, Ashley Bloomfield said he gave the Minister full and very regular updates on isolation testing. Who do we believe? We\u2019ve heard the Government apologise for some of the situations. I have heard no apology to staff at Jet Park from this Government. So I will make it. I\u2019m sorry. We will do our very best to work with officials to keep you safe while you keep us safe. Thank you for what you do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000188\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003EI do not understand why staff at all isolation facilities were not required to wear masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) until last Wednesday. How can that be? Staff at isolation facilities were not required to wear PPE until last Wednesday. The argument is that returnees stay in their room and, when they come out of the room, they\u2019re required to wear a mask, and staff only have to mask up if they\u2019re more than two metres from those returning people. That\u2019s a hard problem. It\u2019s a hard problem in a hotel to stay two metres from someone coming and going, let alone talking about the fomite, the intangible objects that we believe some of the virus can live on. That\u2019s a hard problem. It actually would have been easier to say, \u201CLook, we\u2019re going to require all of you staff\u2014to keep you safe, we\u2019re going to require all of you\u2014to at least wear a mask and other PPE.\u201D Eventually, on Wednesday, the Government got to that position.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000189\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003EA month ago, in written question No. 14725, I think, I asked Chris Hipkins exactly this. I said: can he qualify why staff in isolation facilities are not required compulsorily to wear PPE, masks, etc.? And he made this argument. So we were doing what we do; we were raising the questions to raise the bar. We were critiquing, saying, \u201CLook, we think this is a good idea. Can you think about it?\u201D Yet, three weeks ago, it was taken on board but nothing was done until we strike the urgency of the Jet Park and the urgency of the Rydges.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000190\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003EWhile we\u2019re talking about the Rydges hotel in Auckland, the new genome is a puzzle. We understand that B.1.1.1. is the main cluster, but now we\u2019ve got our second genome, and that\u2019s a real puzzle. It\u2019s a real puzzle to understand that connection to the woman who has also tested genome-positive to that same genome. That\u2019s a real problem that we all need to think on, because that\u2019s going to be a second source. We know it\u2019s come across the border. There\u2019s no other place it could have come from. But then, once that happened, what happened then? That\u2019s when the genome testing is so important.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000191\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003EI\u2019d also ask for some reflection on the burning ember. Are we absolutely sure that this current outbreak is not a recurrence of what we saw with coronavirus wave 1? Are we absolutely sure that the Rydges case which we\u2019ve seen is not a recurrence? I know it\u2019s a long time\u2014it\u2019s 100-plus days\u2014but are we absolutely sure that there\u2019s not some continuity of asymptomatic people passing it on, or people who are too afraid to be tested because of the stigma, which I hope we can all shift and change, and say, \u201CNo, please, you do us all a favour. You do us all a favour if you can be tested. If you are and you\u2019re positive, thank you for putting your hand up. Here\u2019s some things you need to do, but you keep us all safe doing that.\u201D I\u2019m really hopeful we can all get to that position, particularly for M\u0101ori, who struggle maybe even that bit more, particularly for some of my whanaunga up in far-flung distant areas like in the Far North, where I really hope they\u2019re participating in this response.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003EI want to talk about the international border and the statements that have been made today around our position. Let me be clear that we have always said that safety is first. We have always said that safety is pre-eminent before the border could be opened. And, yet, others have come to the same position: on 5 May, when the Prime Minister, in Australia, said that the meeting discussed the possible trans-Tasman bubble, where people could go between Australia and New Zealand freely and without quarantine\u20145\u00A0May. On 9 June, the Deputy Prime Minister: \u201CRather than being confined or constrained by the states that are not succeeding with COVID-19, why don\u2019t we just deal with Tasmania for example and Queensland, and start there? \u2026 no reason at all for us not to have started.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000193\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003EOn 8 August, one day before our first positive test for the current response\u2014remember that they were tested on Monday the 9th, and it was announced on Tuesday the 10th\u2014on 8 August, 24 hours before that first positive test, the Prime Minister said this: \u201CPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed the Government is looking at the first significant loosening of New Zealand\u2019s closed border and strict visa regime since entering lockdown in March.\u201D So the Prime Minister herself, 24 hours before we got that first positive test, was saying, \u201CMaybe we should look at the borders.\u201D Maybe we\u2019ve all been saying the same thing? But be absolutely sure: we were saying that safety comes first.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000194\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003ELook, the policies were not being delivered. The promises were not being kept. This team has been let down, and now we just need to fix it. Thank you, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022 data-id=\u0022f4bd745a75f24213bf36a1f2cf23fcf3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000195\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f4bd745a75f24213bf36a1f2cf23fcf3\u0022\u003E Hon JAMES SHAW (Minister for Climate Change): \u003C/span\u003EThank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to take this moment, whilst we\u2019re obviously very concerned with the short-term response to the current outbreak, to also keep one eye on the longer-term response that this Government and the next one will have to turn our attention to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000196\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003EI did want to respond first to some of the comments that were made by members of the Opposition earlier on in this debate, particularly a comment made by the Hon Gerry Brownlee, who talked about the notion that our response had gaping holes for a very long time. Now, that is either a completely untrue statement or completely ignorant about the nature of this particular virus, because, if it was true that there were gaping holes in our border for a very long time, a previous member of the 40,000 people who have been processed at the border would have brought this through. The idea that you can process 40,000 people in an incredibly short period of time and only now have an outbreak, I think, is not a mark of failure but a mark of success. I think that the Opposition just needs to get a sense of perspective about the nature of this particular outbreak. We\u2019ve never said that it\u2019s perfect, and we are definitely learning as we go. There are mistakes that are apparent, and those are being rectified, but I think the idea that you can process 40,000 people and then have just one outbreak is an outstanding record.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000197\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003EI did say that, obviously, our attention is preoccupied with the short-term response but we do need to keep an eye on the longer-term response as well, and I know that this is something that vexes the Hon Paul Goldsmith deeply about the nature of our economic response. We are, of course, spending tens of billions of dollars on a stimulus package designed to get the country through the economic downturn that faces us as a result of this, and that is, of course, entirely appropriate. If we did not deploy a massive injection of capital into the New Zealand economy at this time, we would be in the grips of an incredibly deep and broad recession. So it is entirely appropriate that we do that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000198\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003ENow, some of that spend is, by definition, very short-term\u2014things like the wage subsidy, where there\u2019s been over $14 billion deployed so far, making sure that people can stay in their jobs for as long as possible and as many people can remain employed during the course of this downturn\u2014but there is, of course, some that is going into investing in new industries or to existing industries to make sure that, actually, we can build our way out of the downturn. It\u2019s on this that I want to focus my attention, because there are a number of major challenges that were facing the country before COVID-19 arrived at our border and also which are still there even though we\u2019re currently focused on the current crisis.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000199\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003EChief amongst those, of course, in my view, is the climate crisis, a sort of meta-crisis that acts as a threat multiplier across so many other domains, but we still have a housing crisis\u2014this Government has made some good progress so far, but we are just getting started, and that is obviously going to take quite some time for us to resolve. There is the crisis of the pipes under our feet that transport our potable water and our storm water and so on, and those are making us sick in many parts of the country. There is the crisis of deepening and persistent poverty around the country. There is the fact that, for many decades, our transport infrastructure has been neglected. Now, all of these are multibillion-dollar challenges that will need to be paid for at some point, preferably sooner rather than later given that we\u2019re talking about at least a three-decade infrastructure deficit that needs to get handled. So my argument here is that not only do we have an opportunity but a responsibility to put every dollar we can of that stimulus to work dealing with the long-term challenges facing our country. Because, if we don\u2019t, our children and our grandchildren will have to pay twice\u2014once to cover the bill that we\u2019re running up for the current crisis, and again to get themselves through the crises that are facing them in their time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000200\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003ESo my plea is, as we go through this, that we continue to think ahead and that we do take this opportunity to deploy every dollar we can of this stimulus on the long-term challenges facing Aotearoa.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022 data-id=\u00224681fc9fa3df4d038481a849b7b4ff02\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000201\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224681fc9fa3df4d038481a849b7b4ff02\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. Look, we are here, back in Parliament, because of the extraordinary circumstances of a renewal of the COVID-19 pandemic here in this country. We\u2019ve seen our largest city going back into lockdown\u2014and maybe the Deputy Prime Minister could carry out his conversation elsewhere, rather than in the House\u2014and we\u2019re trying our best\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000202\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227d99ee4147a94f91b1ae3dd87ef7b563\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! The member will resume his seat. I will say to the Deputy Prime Minister that he\u2019s not allowed to use cellphones in that way in the House. I\u2019ll start the member\u2019s speech again. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000203\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b7ffd55334ac436c85d04ee9b38beaa5\u0022\u003EHon David Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: He does it all the time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d34845ff6abb4f4086f8ba597798689c\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s very kind of you, Mr Speaker. So we\u2019re here at this extraordinary time, and many New Zealand families\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b07fe0c3435d411296e95238e7561bb1\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Order! The member will resume his seat. David Bennett will stand, withdraw, and apologise. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000206\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225121eb732007471e9e3a0578490d5911\u0022\u003EHon David Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: I withdraw and apologise. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000207\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002279b85961b7c94ef79d7d48db38d79d56\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014where a lot of New Zealand families are under intense pressure. We know that in the sense that more than 70,000 New Zealanders have joined the unemployment benefit queues since March, and many more will have lost their jobs and haven\u2019t gone on benefits. The prediction is that many more tens of thousands of New Zealanders will lose their jobs over the next couple of months, and that is largely a result of the economic crisis brought on by COVID.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000208\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EThe worse thing that the Prime Minister said could happen would be for us to yo-yo back into lockdown. That\u2019s why, as we recall, back in April, when she extended the original lockdown\u2014those extra painful weeks\u2014it was to ensure that we didn\u2019t go back into lockdown, and, yet, here we are, and now we see the consequences of that in terms of hundreds of millions of dollars being wiped off the economic face of the country and more jobs being lost. An estimate today from Auckland Council is that 250 jobs are being lost a day\u2014who knows? We know that at least 40 percent of Auckland businesses are operating at less than half capacity right now, according to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce\u2014real pressure.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003ESo the obvious thing that people will be asking, though, given the consequences of going back into lockdown, is that surely the Government would be absolutely focused on trying to do everything they can to reduce the risk of having to go back into lockdown. Yes, nobody can be absolutely sure, and there\u2019s no perfect, risk-free environment. There\u2019s always going to be, as we\u2019ve seen, people coming into this country from offshore with disease, but the critical thing is how to contain it and make sure that it doesn\u2019t get out into the community.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000210\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EThat\u2019s why nobody can understand why the Government has been so slow to ensure that those people who are working at the border and in the quarantine facilities are being tested regularly. We have this extraordinary situation still, where the Prime Minister\u2014our Prime Minister\u2014insists that the Government thought that they were all being tested and that the Government had somehow been misled by officials, and yet the Minister of Health has said that there was a clear policy decision by that very same Government not to make it compulsory that those people be tested. So you can\u2019t put those two things together and add them up. There is total inconsistency in the heart of the Government\u2019s policies and answers around that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000211\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003ESo people are being let down by our Government taking far too long to get the people that are working in that area, who were mixing and working alongside people who have the disease and who are going home to their community in the evening, going to the local shops, being with their family, going to the local churches and, potentially, spreading the disease\u2014it just stands to reason that you would test those people on a regular basis and would have invested in an effective tracing mechanism. I was down in Christchurch on the weekend, using the app. I went to a store that has a different app\u2014a different QR code that doesn\u2019t work with the Government\u2019s QR code. They still, after months, haven\u2019t sorted out the testing and tracing system. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000212\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EThen, we see the Minister of Finance here today recognising that, given this incursion and given this failure at the border and we\u2019re back at lockdown, we\u2019re having to spend another $1.6 billion of borrowed money for further wage subsidies. Yes, we have to do that\u2014we have to support those businesses who were closed down because they can\u2019t trade\u2014and yet, today, he couldn\u2019t give me simple answers to real confusion within the business community about how the wage subsidy works. On the Government website, they say that, yes, you can get the wage subsidy and you can pay your employees, and if you can\u2019t pay your employees the full salary, because you\u2019re not trading, well, you can pay them the wage subsidy rate, which is $580-odd, but that happens to be less than the minimum wage. Then, we\u2019ve the Employment Relations Authority saying, \u201CWell, hang on. That\u2019s not right. You need to pay\u201D\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000213\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002260e028d0b066431eb9091eee19505a92\u0022\u003EHon Andrew Little\u003C/span\u003E: Not what they said\u2014not what they said. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000214\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220f0570b7732a42118f339b6690ff39a2\u0022\u003EHon PAUL GOLDSMITH\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014\u201Cthe minimum wage.\u201D That\u2019s what they said. In that particular instance, they said that if the 80 percent of salary is less than the minimum wage, you need to pay the minimum wage, and you have to make that up. That\u2019s the case, and who knows whether it will be clarified by the Employment Court? But the real question is that there are many businesses out here now just with another piece of uncertainty that they are having to face. Are they going to have to make those back payments? When are we going to go back into lockdown? When are we going to know whether a greengrocer or a butcher can trade? Am I going to have to wait 4\u00BD hours to get my goods over the border in Auckland?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000215\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003EAnybody would have expected that a Government which stands up\u2014the Minister of Health stands up on his hind legs in this Government and says, \u201CWe have prepared and planned for this.\u201D, and, yet, everybody looks around and sees there has been very little preparation and very little planning for this state.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022 data-id=\u002267ede1f154da4460b54727714a92faf7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000216\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002267ede1f154da4460b54727714a92faf7\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Deputy Prime Minister):\u003C/span\u003E When there was a severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak at the start of this century, there was a pandemic policy put together where not one epidemiologist was on the planning committee, and here we are now with the COVID outbreak again and we have to learn some real lessons. We can hope for a worldwide vaccine, but we will not be able to say that\u2019s enough for any future pandemic variations or new viruses. We live, after all, in an interconnected world, and our response is critical. The number one responsibility of members of Parliament, before their party, is to save lives, and a duty to protect the economy with all the jobs and general welfare which spring from it. The power the Government deploys to do so comes down to our bureaucratic arrangements.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000217\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EWhen the Government bureaucracy is effective, the response is effective as well, and we win the support and cooperation of our 5 million citizens when we are effective. But, if there\u2019s a question to be asked about the past week, about the renewed COVID spread and corresponding lockdowns, the question is this: does the Government have the best possible agency arrangements to fight these outbreaks? It\u2019s not a criticism of the valiant efforts of our front-line staff and emergency workers; this is a call by my party for a new border security policy. My party is calling for the creation of a new border protection force. Our focus on Government should be a single line of attack. Its task will be to coordinate the protection of our borders from pandemic and biosecurity incursions, and our lives and economy depend on it. Consolidation of effort is called for.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000218\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EIf you take the recent case of a managed isolation worker in a quarantine facility, what did we all see? We have to, as a Parliament, respond to it. A press conference from the Minister of Health and the Director-General of Health on the outbreak, a press conference from a Minister of Housing and an Air Commodore on the quarantines, and then a Prime Minister answering questions in Parliament on lockdowns and what happened when. Behind it all is a massive blend of Government agencies, task forces, and central agencies with overlapping roles. But a genuine question has been posed: did one arm of Government know what the other arm of Government was doing or not doing?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000219\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022eff48652058e4b16b04812ceb82db092\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: One could ask that of Cabinet right now.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000220\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ad0c15f6e24a4034914c2afb99d8537d\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Well, we could ask it of the National Party right now, because they\u2019ve been all over the place for the last three months. But we\u2019re trying to come up with a positive policy going forward for the biosecurity and pandemic problems that we face. We\u2019ve had, under the National Party\u2014I\u2019m not going to deviate from this, but we had in the National Party, in their nine years, over 178 biosecurity breaches. Over 178, and, yet, a member from the agricultural community in this Parliament, from the King Country, shouts out as though she\u2019s got some righteous cause behind her. If I was her, I\u2019d keep quiet with that record, and a lack of investment in terms of cultivating attacks on such invasions of this country, whether they be by virus or biosecurity.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000221\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003ECan I just say that we are calling for one single agency to be created with a clear-eyed focus on border control, a new border protection force reporting to one senior Cabinet Minister, who in turn reports to the Prime Minister and Cabinet. It would have its roles, responsibilities, and obligations clearly set out. But the key thing would be\u2014and I\u2019m going to release this policy this afternoon\u2014the use of the Defence Force, which we argued for from day one; the use of our Customs Service alongside the Defence Force and alongside strategic Immigration New Zealand officers in terms of their powers being strengthened, where the enforcement of these laws would be required.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000222\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EHere are the realities: our biggest-populated city is in lockdown, with security and staff that come in and out of facilities with potential to spread virus in all of these quarantine facilities. Why, in our biggest city, are they not in our military camps? Why are they not in places like Wai\u014Duru, Manawat\u016B, \u014Ch\u0101kea? We\u2019ve got an Air Force facility there; we can fly people in and out. Why not in the Burnham Camp area, and why not in the West Melton training area? We\u2019ve got the facilities, we\u2019ve got the people, we\u2019ve got the utilities, and we are paying a fortune to look after these people coming in now. Imagine if we\u2019d put that investment into our military. We\u2019d have been able to do that for a fraction of the cost with a long-term benefit.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000223\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003ESo we are talking about, today, the need for a new border protection force, and that should be\u2014and we will make it\u2014a major priority.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022 data-id=\u0022e50a9c979148417cabc96d5429a39314\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000224\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e50a9c979148417cabc96d5429a39314\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENNETT (National\u2014Hamilton East):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. All my colleagues today have started their speeches, in fairness, talking about how well the New Zealand public has done in dealing with the COVID outbreak earlier this year, and I just want to reiterate that and congratulate the team of 5 million for the work that they did. But, in doing that, there was a responsibility, then, also on the Government to play its part in the last three months since the last community transmission. What we have seen in the last week is a definite failure by this Government to uphold its hard part of the bargain. It didn\u2019t do its job. Its Ministers were asleep at the wheel. They did not take the responsibility that is entrusted to them, and they did not act in the best interests of New Zealanders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000225\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EWe heard Minister Little say they were cruising. They were cruising. That was the mentality of Labour Party Ministers, and that is the mentality that has got this country into trouble. There\u2019s no excuse for what has happened in the last week, apart from Ministers that sat there, cruising, hoping their leader would take them to the election\u2014Ministers that didn\u2019t ask the hard questions and Ministers that did nothing in the New Zealand public interest. That is what has happened to this country in the last three months.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000226\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EI want to talk about one Minister in particular, the Minister, over there, for agriculture. The Minister of Agriculture sat around for three months and did nothing. He did nothing to support the primary industries. In fact, he was going around the country saying, \u201CWe need the primary industries at this time. They are so vital for the future of New Zealand.\u201D At the same time, he was kicking them with greater regulation. But what he should have been doing was working, in his office, on how, if there is another outbreak, those farmers actually get to their farms across any inter-regional border. He didn\u2019t do a thing. He didn\u2019t even recognise that that was an issue, because we all knew that if there was going to be an outbreak, there would be inter-regional breaks. The Prime Minister made that very clear last time\u2014that, next time, any shutdowns would be on a regional basis. That Minister sat there for three months and didn\u2019t look after New Zealand farmers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000227\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EIn fact, when we had this incursion, this outbreak, and we had the lockdown in Auckland, the Minister still didn\u2019t act. It didn\u2019t register to him that something needed to be done. It was only when the sectors came to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and asked, because they had to have an exemption now. In the past, the farmers were seen as essential businesses. But now, under this outbreak, you also need to have a Ministry of Health exemption. The Minister didn\u2019t think about talking to the Minister of Health and asking for that exemption for New Zealand farmers. There\u2019s no way he can deny that\u2014there is no way he can deny that\u2014because he didn\u2019t get an exemption for New Zealand farmers. The only exemption that is out there now is for dairy, horticulture, and poultry, and that\u2019s because those sectors have been knocking on MPI\u2019s door for the last week. Where are the sheep and beef farmers? Where is the racing industry? Where\u2019s the Minister for Racing, standing up for his industry? They were nowhere to be seen. They haven\u2019t acted in the best interests of New Zealanders, and that is a disgrace for those Ministers. They did not do their job.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000228\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EAnother thing that Minister should have been doing is looking at what level 3 rules would be. Did the Minister go out there and say, \u201CWhat about our butchers and our greengrocers?\u201D\u2014the people that sell the very products that our farmers make? Did he go and lobby so that any new level 3 conditions imposed on New Zealanders on a regional basis would still enable those businesses to operate, so that those farmers and producers could sell their product to them? No, he didn\u2019t. All we got was level 3 placed on us with the old rules, because that\u2019s all they had in the bottom of the drawer. They sat there for three months cruising. They didn\u2019t think they had to deal with an issue like this, and they didn\u2019t do the preparation. That is the job of a Minister of the Crown\u2014to do the preparation. Their job is not to sit there and cruise and hope their leader gets them through; their job is to ask the hard questions, think about what the issues are, and direct their staff to make it happen.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000229\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EIf we want to go wider than the Minister of Agriculture, we can look at the Minister of Health and Megan Woods\u2014whatever her role is now. They didn\u2019t ask the hard questions. We only got testing after the outbreak\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u00228615fb0acea04fba927f4fc48d531164\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000230\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228615fb0acea04fba927f4fc48d531164\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! The member\u2019s time has expired.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022 data-id=\u0022c3ca2661ed3e4eb3a399b2ebc36929b5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000231\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c3ca2661ed3e4eb3a399b2ebc36929b5\u0022\u003EHon POTO WILLIAMS (Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector):\u003C/span\u003E Kia orana, Mr Speaker. I stand here as a proud Cook Islands New Zealander, proud of how my community is responding in a positive and compliant way to support all of the people of Aotearoa. With the House\u2019s indulgence, I\u2019d like to make some statements in reo Kuki Airani.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000232\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003EKia Orana e taku iti tangata K\u016Bki \u02BB\u0100irani. Ei \u02BBaka\u02BB\u0101ravei ia t\u0101tou i roto i teia tu\u0101tau kua tapoki \u02BBaka\u02BB\u014Du\u02BBia t\u0101tou e teia manumanu rikarika i te COVID. Teia to t\u0101tou \u02BB\u012Brava manea ei \u02BBakako\u02BBuko\u02BBu ia t\u0101tou ki to t\u0101tou Atu. Te nako nei, \u201CE na mua r\u0101i k\u014Dtou i te kimi i te basileia o te Atua\u201D. Kare e \u02BB\u0101ite te p\u016Bm\u0101\u02BBana o te ng\u0101kau no teia \u02BB\u012Brava. E karere \u02BBakam\u0101ro\u02BBiro\u02BBi teia naku ia t\u0101tou i roto i teia tu\u0101tau e taku iti tangata. Mei runga mai ia koe e Kaitaia e tae atu ki Murihiku i te tautau, e p\u0113r\u0101 katoa to t\u0101tou parata\u02BBito manea te K\u016Bki \u02BB\u0100irani. Me te kite ra koe i te t\u016Bk\u0113 i to\u02BBou kopapa\u2014\u02BB\u0101ravei\u02BBia to\u02BBou taote. Kia pure t\u0101tou no to t\u0101tou au kopu tangata tei roko\u02BBia e te maki i roto i teia tu\u0101tau e tae roa atu ki to tatou iti tangata i te K\u016Bki \u02BB\u0100irani.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000233\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003EWhat I\u2019ve said in our language is that I want to send a message of love and encouragement to our Cook Islands people in Auckland and around Aotearoa to be strong in their hearts to help us beat coronavirus. I ask for them all to have a test if they are feeling unwell and to encourage all of our Cook Islands people to support one another. I ask that we pray for those who are sick and we look after our families at this time, and we also pray for the people back home in the Cook Islands. If we work together to beat the virus, we will be able to join our loved ones both in Aotearoa and back in our heritage homeland of the Cook Islands.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000234\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003EThere has been in the last few weeks some very disturbing social media, and also some very unhelpful responses from mainstream media, and, can I also say, from members of the Opposition. Cook Islands leaders tell me that there\u2019s 80 percent positivity of responses within the community; however, they are dealing with some negative responses from other members of other communities. The distress comes when negative stories surface and make our people fearful and worried. But, as our Minister for M\u0101ori Development has said in this House today, it is our people, Pacific and M\u0101ori, who embrace testing. This is encouraging. This was encouraging during our level 4 lockdown, and it is encouraging today, and I want to encourage you all to keep doing the right thing. Go and get a test. Don\u2019t be whakam\u0101. Take heart that our community leaders have done so to demonstrate their care and love for all of us members of the Cook Islands and Pacific community. There is nothing stronger or more positive than our leaders setting the example. Download the app. Keep a record of your movements. Follow the guidelines: social distancing and restricted numbers at get-togethers; wear a mask; wash your hands. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000235\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003EIf I might just finish with a couple of words in the Cook Islands language: Ka anoano au ia t\u0101tou i te \u02BBanga\u02BBanga kapiti na roto i te tauturu\u02BBanga i tetai, i tei paruparu i teia maki, kia kore ta t\u0101tou i kite ma\u02BBata. Na roto i teia au ravenga ka riro ei mataora i te \u02BB\u0101ravei atu i to t\u0101tou kopu tangata i te K\u016Bki \u02BB\u0100irani e p\u0113r\u0101 katoa i Aotearoa nei. Mr Speaker\u2014meitaki korereka i roto i te Atu.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022 data-id=\u002270b33ae3275c48e5b1a1fae756be1051\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000236\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002270b33ae3275c48e5b1a1fae756be1051\u0022\u003EGINNY ANDERSEN (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Mr Speaker, thank you very much. It\u2019s not with any pleasure that all of us have had to return in such an unprecedented time. In fact, it\u2019s a very difficult time for New Zealand in general. But, on this side of the House, we are focused and we are united in getting the job done that needs to be done\u2014and we know that well. The feeling we get back from New Zealanders\u2014the feeling I get back\u2014is that it\u2019s the time for us to get on and get this job done. We\u2019ve been working hard to ensure that New Zealand\u2019s people and economy are in the best possible position. We again are here at the 52nd term of Government. We do not underestimate at all what being in level 3 does in Auckland, to our economy and the wider ripples that go across our country. This is why we have acted fast. This is why we have made the wage subsidy available right across New Zealand while Auckland is in level 3 and businesses like hospitality, like tourism, and like retail also deal with level 2 right across the country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000237\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EWe have also acted fast to deploy more testing stations, ramping up processing and tracing capabilities to get the COVID Tracer app in place and to make sure as many people as possible are using it whenever they are out. It is really heartening to see, as I go around in my own community, how that is displayed in every single place\u2014and not only how it is being displayed but how everybody is using it every time they enter into any shop or any venue. It\u2019s encouraging to know that we have seen, since 12 August, a huge amount of testing done. We have seen 136,000 COVID tests completed since the second outbreak. We know that our border workers are going through that process, and we are making sure that contact tracing is well in place and going ahead and delivering the results that New Zealanders need to feel safe here in New Zealand. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000238\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EIn terms of our third response, that economic and that wage subsidy is so important that we continue to roll that out, as we have right from the start, since COVID has made itself present here in New Zealand. It is important that people are looked after, and we have learnt that it was definitely right, that the best economic response was indeed a health response\u2014one that looks after the wellbeing of New Zealanders in order to keep the wheels of our economy turning, and turning well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000239\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003ESo it is with some disappointment, some sadness, when we see some of the, I would say, politicking that I have seen over the last few weeks, because I do not have an appetite, and I do not think that many others in New Zealand have an appetite, for seeing this sort of behaviour happening. I believe that New Zealanders expect more of us in this House at a time when we need to step up and get on with the job. I think it is unfortunate, too, that we have been accused of scaremongering at a time when this Government took active steps to put legislation in place, to put good protections in place should there be a second wave of COVID\u2014should there be a second wave of COVID\u2014and I think it is very unfortunate that this was termed in such a way that it has been done so.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000240\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EI am disappointed that the Hon Judith Collins said she supported mandatory testing, but after voting against the very legislation that enabled this mandatory testing to take place at our borders. Speaking of borders, I think this has been an ongoing farce in terms of the mixed messages we have received from those opposite: to open them or to shut them; to be like Australia; to be like Sweden; to have more international students coming to New Zealand; to not have international students coming to New Zealand. I believe we owe it more to the people of New Zealand to give clear messages, to give reassurance, and not to prey upon anxieties. That is the last point I\u2019ll make in this area. I am really, really saddened that conspiracy theories and muckraking have taken place to prey upon the anxieties and the fears of New Zealanders at a time when we need reassurance, we need safety, and we need to be able to work together cohesively as a team, and to be focused on the wellbeing of New Zealanders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000241\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003EI\u2019m going to finish off with an email I received today from a constituent who wrote to myself and Chris Bishop, and she said, \u201CExcuse me that I\u2019m writing to both of you, but I want both of you to know that I fervently hope that you are both voices of reason in Parliament during this challenging time. It is a virus. I do not understand this call for heads to roll. We are all in this together, and only together we can hope to rein this virus in for a while. I trust the integrity of you both, that you please work together and pull your colleagues up when you see this not happening.\u201D I hope we can all do that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022 data-id=\u00228a145f940e3c45af830d7eeb5db0a52f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000242\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228a145f940e3c45af830d7eeb5db0a52f\u0022\u003EBRETT HUDSON (National):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Speaker. Well, it\u2019s interesting to be back, in a turn of events which we didn\u2019t expect. But what we have learnt, though, is that the members of this Labour-led Government seem to believe that that fine and well-used cafe just a few metres from this Chamber was named after the American David Copperfield, because for months they\u2019ve been telling us how they\u2019ve got the plan and they\u2019re taking the action to secure our border to keep New Zealanders safe, and it was all an illusion. They had talked about it. They had made promises. They\u2019d missed one small yet pertinent element: they hadn\u2019t actually done it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003EHow many times\u2014how many times\u2014did we hear the Labour-led Government say \u201CWe\u2019ve got this.\u201D? How many times did we hear the Prime Minister say \u201CWe\u2019ve got this.\u201D? Well, it appears the only thing we\u2019ve got is another dose of COVID-19. And why is that? Why? Because it took them over 100 days to even think about whether there should be testing of border staff. The perimeter for our isolated nation, the one place where the virus could get through, and they didn\u2019t think about testing the workers there that would come in contact, potentially, with infected people, who could come in contact with infected surfaces, and surface transmission has been known about through this entire COVID-19 scare. They didn\u2019t think that maybe it was a good idea to regularly test those workers. Then, when the lightbulb moment arrived, they wrote a little note in Cabinet. I don\u2019t know the exact words, but it amounts to \u201CMaybe we should test these people regularly.\u201D Then what happened? They didn\u2019t bother to check that it was actually being done.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000244\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003EThe speaker who resumed her seat before me, Ginny Andersen, said that the public would have an expectation of us at times like this. Well, they have an expectation of the Government that it would actually do its job, and the news that has emerged over these recent days is very clear that it hasn\u2019t. It certainly hasn\u2019t done it well enough to keep New Zealanders safe.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000245\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003ENow, on top of that, as is not too uncommon, particularly when this current Government finds itself in a bit of hot water, it looks to deflect or apportion blame elsewhere. There was a news report early yesterday morning. The Prime Minister was appearing to place the blame for that lack of mandatory testing on the Ministry of Health. Well, here\u2019s a bit of free advice for the Government: perhaps the show might work a lot smoother and it might actually be more effective at keeping COVID-19 out of New Zealand if they would simply let Dr Ashley Bloomfield catch the bus instead of trying to repeatedly push him underneath it. New Zealand would be all the better for that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000246\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s not that New Zealanders are actually going to be surprised by this recent turn of events. The Government has talked up a big game but not actually delivered it and not even checked to see that the delivery, in fact, wasn\u2019t happening. We\u2019ve seen it consistently, for now just shy of three years. What are we going to do? We\u2019re going to build light rail down Dominion Road in four years. How\u2019s that going? We\u2019re going to build 5,000 KiwiBuild homes. They\u2019ve delivered fewer than 10 percent of their promise. This has been a Government that for three years has governed by press release and announcement, trying to have New Zealanders believe that it is merely the spouting of words and intentions that delivers. The truth, as New Zealanders are now finding at the peril of their own health, is quite different. What they need is a Government that they can rely upon to actually do what it says it will do, the sort of Government that National showed itself as in the last nine years, particularly following the global financial crisis, the Canterbury earthquakes, the Pike River disaster\u2014a Government that they could rely upon.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000247\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003EI\u2019ll finish up by the mentions about the border and National\u2019s comments. National said the border could be reopened for international students if they were tested before they left, tested on arrival, tested before they left isolation. We wondered why they wouldn\u2019t support that. It\u2019s because they weren\u2019t safeguarding the border in the first place.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u00228a99bef89c87483a99bbe8b1c52753e8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000248\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228a99bef89c87483a99bbe8b1c52753e8\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! The time for this debate has expired. In accordance with a determination of the Business Committee, the House stands adjourned until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 25 August 2020.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000249\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003EThe debate having concluded, the motion lapsed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000250\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003EThe House adjourned at 3.58 p.m.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20200819336a347ac4b443e68aa4effae8ffd4f1000251\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n  \u003C/body\u003E\n\u003C/html\u003E"