Steph Lewis: How has MSD been connecting with Māori, Pacific, and ethnic communities?
Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Fact sheets have been produced in 12 different languages and have been shared throughout MSD’s network channels. These are also available online. MSD have strong relationships in the Auckland region and have been working closely with social services and with Whānau Ora commissioning agencies, who play an important role in getting assistance and information out to Māori and Pacific whānau. Alongside this, a targeted strategy has been used to ensure key information has been provided to hard-to-reach groups and the Papatoetoe High School’s contact list of whānau and students.
Question No. 6—Infrastructure
6. ANDREW BAYLY (National—Port Waikato) to the Minister for Infrastructure: How many of the 170 projects announced by the Government, as part of its shovel-ready scheme announced in April last year, if any, has construction not started on?
Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister for Infrastructure): I’m happy to advise the member that, in fact, the Government has now contracted 205 infrastructure reference group (IRG) projects, for all of which initial design and planning work has now commenced. Part of the approval process for IRG projects is an expectation the projects must start construction within 12 months of the contracted date. Thus far, construction has started on 49 projects. It is important to note that when we announced the funding for the IRG projects, we were expecting mass unemployment and a need to create extra capacity in our construction sector. Thankfully, that scenario has not eventuated; in fact, we are facing restricted capacity in the construction sector, but the IRG projects are giving confidence to the sector of a pipeline of work.
Andrew Bayly: By what date will the 121 stalled shovel-ready projects have shovels in the ground?
Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I reject the premise of the member’s question. We have contracted 205 projects. What we have is a construction environment that is thriving, with 21,000 extra workers in the construction sector in December—something the member might want to celebrate.
Andrew Bayly: Why, 12 months after the shovel-ready programme was announced, are there still shovel-ready projects—121—with no shovels in the ground despite there being over 200,000 people on the jobseeker benefit?
Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I just repeat what I said in my last answer: there are 21,000 more people in the construction sector than we saw in the December quarter. Two hundred and five projects have been contracted. The Government has done the work. We have now got those projects ready to go. As the construction sector can absorb that capacity, we will see those projects roll out.
Andrew Bayly: How many of the 170 shovel-ready projects that were promised have been, or are being, reassessed or re-evaluated?
Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: As I said to the member in my primary answer, 205 infrastructure reference group projects have been contracted. I believe there might be another 15 that are currently being worked through to be re-scoped, and potentially may not go ahead, but, actually, I think many of them will. [Interruption] Fifteen—15.
Question No. 7—Oceans and Fisheries
7. Hon EUGENIE SAGE (Green) to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: How many habitats of particular significance for fisheries management have been defined and protected under section 9(c) of the Fisheries Act 1996 in the last 10 years?
