5. NICKY WAGNER (National) Link to this
to the Minister for Economic Development
What steps will the Government take to aid the recovery of the Canterbury region from the recent major earthquake?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Minister for Economic Development) Link to this
Today the Government, with the support of the other parties in the House, will introduce the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Bill. The legislation is needed urgently so that recovery work can continue seamlessly, following the lifting of the state of emergency in Canterbury, which is expected to happen later this week. Passing this bill will facilitate the Canterbury recovery by providing a mechanism that allows specific amendments to be made to a range of legislation, thereby avoiding any unnecessary slow-down to the recovery work that we now have ahead of us. This legislation is specifically for the recovery from the earthquake event. It is important that we move forward with considered haste, to prevent further adverse effects on the people of Canterbury.
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE Link to this
The Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Bill enables the Government to use Orders in Council to facilitate the recovery response. Those Orders in Council, of course, will be subject to normal parliamentary scrutiny, as provided in the Standing Orders. This bill allows for the relaxation or suspension of provisions in enactments that may divert resources away from the effort to efficiently respond to the damage caused and the efforts to minimise further damage. It also allows for the relaxation or suspension of enactments that may not be reasonably capable of being complied with, due to earthquake damage. The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Commission will link decision makers on the ground in Canterbury with decision makers in Wellington. Membership of the commission will include the three mayors, and the commission will ensure that the recovery is driven by the people of Canterbury.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
Is he satisfied that he has the complete support of the three affected Canterbury mayors for the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Bill, given their statement on Radio New Zealand today that the lifting of the state of emergency in Canterbury will not happen if they are not satisfied with the legislation that he wishes to pass through the Parliament?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE Link to this
I am confident that the three mayors, who will, of course, be on the commission, are satisfied with the bill. Over the weekend there have been discussions with their offices, as well as with offices representing Government agencies. The work is being led by the Ministry for the Environment, and the Parliamentary Counsel Office has worked tirelessly to get the bill together. A great deal of consideration has been given to the question of how extensive the bill should be. In the end we have a bill that I think will enable those mayors to constructively go about their reconstruction. I take this opportunity to congratulate the three of them, Kelvin Coe, Ron Keating, and Bob Parker, on the work that they have done to ensure that they have what is needed in order to get the job done.