10. RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) Link to this
to the Minister with responsibility for Auckland Issues
What responsibility does she accept, if any, for Monday’s power blackout in Auckland, and what steps is she taking to ensure it does not happen again?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD (Minister with responsibility for Auckland Issues) Link to this
Like the Minister of Energy, I am deeply concerned about the power outage and I will keeping in close contact with the report he is seeking, to make sure that this matter is fully investigated and that all possible steps are taken to ensure that it does not happen again.
As the Minister responsible for Auckland issues, what issues exactly does she take responsibility for?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
This Government is determined that Auckland will have infrastructure so that it can be internationally competitive. I do not intend to duplicate the work of other Ministers, but to enable Auckland’s messages to get through to Wellington and to work with this Government, which wants to support Auckland.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. The Minister’s title is “Minister with responsibility for Auckland Issues”. It is not an unreasonable question in the House to ask her what issues she is actually responsible for. We just heard the Minister completely miss the question, not address the question, and leave the House wondering why we have this Minister. I say to you, Madam Speaker, that if we are to have a question time, Ministers do have to address the question. I cannot imagine a question more to the heart of the business of this Minister than simply asking her what issues she is responsible for, because that is her title.
Madam SPEAKERThe Minister addressed the question as to how she saw the responsibility, so the question has been addressed.
H V Ross Robertson Link to this
What is the Government spending on the national grid in the Auckland area, and how does that compare with spending under a previous administration?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
This year in the Auckland area we spent $83 million on grid projects. In comparison, the previous National Government spent just $52 million on the entire national grid in the 1998-99 year.
Paula BennettDoes the Minister remember producing a glossy booklet entitled Growing an Innovative Auckland in 2003 with her mate the Prime Minister, which states: “We’re carefully managing electricity and energy supply risks.” and if she does remember, is the Government going to take responsibility for Monday’s power blackout or is 7 years not long enough and was it just another of her vacuous promises?
The Hon Judith Tizard. [ Interruption] I ask the member to be seated until the barracking has stopped. As members know, interjections are permitted; barracking is not. Would the member now please address the question.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I think it is important to note for the record that the barracking was from Government MPs who, I think, were supporting Paula Bennett in her question.
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
The booklet was put out to explain to Aucklanders what this Government is doing, and I am happy to table this document later. It describes the cross-Government work on the strategic direction of Auckland, sustainable development, infrastructure particularly relating to transport, and other infrastructure including energy, social policy, economic development, and regional and local governance. This Government is extremely busy on working for Auckland and is starting to deliver infrastructure that will make Auckland internationally sustainable.
Hon Maurice Williamson Link to this
Did the Minister find any time within her onerous schedule, or any respite in her back-breaking workload over the last 7 years, to advise the Minister of Transport that building the biggest shopping complex in the country at Sylvia Park, without building any extra roading, was a recipe for chaos; and if so, could this House have a copy of those reports?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
The Minister of Transport did not, of course, build the shopping complex. But the situation at Sylvia Park does demonstrate how the Ministry of Transport and Transit New Zealand need to work with developers rather than just having to deal with the consequences of developments. Otherwise, taxpayers—particularly petrol-tax payers—bear all the costs.
In light of Auckland’s recent power blackout, can the Minister give an assurance to the House that there are no known risks the Government is aware of to other major Auckland infrastructure such as that for gas and water supply; if not what are those risks?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
No Government and no Minister can give that assurance. The idea that there are no risks—
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I am well aware that the Minister does not have a magic wand, but my question was about whether the Minister was aware of any known risks to Auckland’s gas and water supply. Once again, this Minister chose not to address the question.
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
Of course there are known risks. How can any system not have known risks? What this Government is doing is undertaking to evaluate those risks and try to avoid them causing a collapse of Auckland’s power or gas system, as happened under the National Government for 5 weeks.
I am going to, because we are making progress. We got the first part of the question addressed; now we need the second part of the question to be addressed. That is: what are they?
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I seek leave to table a booklet that states: “We’re carefully managing electricity and energy supply risks.” That was written by the Minister in 2003.
Hon Dr Michael Cullen Link to this
Does the Minister take an interest in occupational safety and health issues in Auckland; if so, what is she going to do to stop attractive young women being dropped head first by podgy middle-aged men who have lost their grip?
That is not a legitimate question. Can we move now to [ Interruption] Order, please. We have a point of order.
Gerry BrownleeI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I feel obliged to tell the House that I have not lost my grip. I was asked to appear on Dancing with the Stars with Beatrice, but the Earthquake Commission had a few objections.
What reports has the Minister received on known risks to infrastructure in Auckland?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
The Minister of Energy has received reports on this issue. I have discussed these with him—
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
I am part of the Government. Actually we work quite collaboratively. I would like to point out that having been a member of the Auckland Electric Power Board from 1977 to 1983, I have seen innumerable reports about the risk to Auckland infrastructure. Unlike members opposite, I take them seriously.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
Can the Minister confirm that the 12 known risks for which Transpower sought approval and funding consent in Auckland last year have all been approved, and work is scheduled to fix all of them?
I seek leave to table a document prepared by Treasury, which is a stocktake of Auckland policy work streams as at 15 June 2006—a monthly report.