6. JACINDA ARDERN (Labour) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Does he stand by his answers to oral question No. 1 on 8 March 2011; if not, why not?
Rt Hon JOHN KEYIs he satisfied that every possible effort was made after the September quake to ensure that young tradespeople part-way through their training continue that training?
When he said “In terms of the skills capability … there is quite a pool of people in the construction sector from around New Zealand, and, potentially, from around the world”, was he acknowledging that a skills shortage exists in New Zealand?
No, it was the opposite: to explain that there are some people who have skills in the construction sector but who are currently unemployed around New Zealand.
There probably will be, given the size of the job at hand. That is why both the Minister for Social Development and Employment and the Minister for Tertiary Education are working on that issue as we speak.
Is he concerned about the number of partly trained plumbers who have left New Zealand for Australia since September?
Mr SPEAKERMy question specifically asked about the period since September. I am not sure what Helen Clark has to do with that time period.
I am not sure that we are helping ourselves here. The member should reflect on the question she asked the Prime Minister, about whether he was concerned about plumbers going to Australia. The Prime Minister answered by saying yes, he was, and he gave a reason for why he thought they might be going. [ Interruption] I am on my feet. I cannot help with the answer; that was the answer that was given. [ Interruption] Members know better than that. A little order, please.
What does he say to Julie Colthurst, whose son has been forced to move to Australia to find a plumbing apprenticeship even after completing 12 months of plumbing training at Manukau Institute of Technology?
Does he agree with an area manager from the Apprenticeship Training Trust that “from business reports the boost in the construction sector is just not happening and that Christchurch situation will further delay projects. Apprenticeship opportunities in Auckland are few and far between.”?
If the opportunities in Auckland are few and far between, there will certainly be opportunities in Christchurch, because a $20 billion rebuild is coming.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
Why did the Prime Minister’s Ministers not take action to prevent people like this young man from leaving the country?
I am glad that the member asked that question, because this Government has taken lots of steps to prevent people from going from New Zealand. We have cut personal taxes, we have got on top of the crime wave that was prevalent when those members were in Government, we have made a priority of economic growth, we have had an outward-facing economy, and under our Government fewer people have left for Australia than under the previous Government.
Hon Phil GoffWhy will the Prime Minister not concede that the reason why a new record number of New Zealanders qualified in the skilled areas are leaving to go to Australia is because, first, the wage gap has grown not narrowed as he promised, and, secondly, the building industry is at its lowest point for 45 years in terms of house starts?
Yes, the housing construction starts are low. That is a reflection of the fact that we have gone through a global recession and that is the impact that has been most highly felt. But over the course of the next 4 or 5 years I do not think that finding jobs in the construction industry will be a problem if people are prepared to work in Christchurch.