4. Hon DAVID CARTER (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Agriculture
Does he support the exemption from microchipping for farm dogs?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House) Link to this
[ Interruption] And woof to you, too! As far as I am aware the exemption passed last night related to working dogs, not farm dogs alone.
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Now that the member has learnt to beg correctly, I can say the answer is no. I voted for the microchipping of all dogs and voted against the amendment relating to working dogs.
How can the Minister credibly claim he represents the interests of New Zealand farmers, when last night he voted against the exemption for working farm dogs.
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
The Minister of Agriculture took to Cabinet a submission from Federated Farmers, in which they stated that the top issue for the farming sector in New Zealand was nothing to do with earnings, agricultural products, market access, or anything else; it was to do with the microchipping of farm dogs. That was the top issue facing agriculture in this country. Mr Anderton did take that to Cabinet, but Cabinet reaffirmed its position and Mr Anderton supports that position.
How much taxpayer money did the Minister waste sending out Primary News to every farmer in New Zealand, telling farmers they would have to microchip their dogs; and how arrogant is it of him to presume the wishes of this Parliament?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I do not know how long the member has been here, but Ministers have communicated the intentions of Government that require legislation for as long as I have been here and for a lot longer before that.
Nathan GuyWill his Government learn any lessons from the flip-flops on the “fart tax”, the carbon tax, and microchipping; and why is the Government proceeding with a series of meetings to force the issue of public access over private land?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Taking the last issue, I point out that the Government’s policy is to seek consensus and consent around access across private land. If the member wants to try to heavy farmers to prevent access, then that would be very strange indeed, particularly where there are designated public roads.
Craig FossIs it arrogance, or is it just further proof of just how out of touch the Minister is with rural New Zealand, that led him to vote against farmers’ wishes last night?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
What I regard as arrogance is that member going along to the Finance and Expenditure Committee, as he did, waving his own tax return, and asking for answers about why it was dealt with in the way it was—using a parliamentary select committee for his own financial purposes.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. The Minister has just made a very serious accusation. I am sure that no member of the House would do something like that. I think if it is true the member should resign; and, if it is not true, the Minister should apologise.
Madam SPEAKERI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I did not wave my own tax return around in any committee whatsoever yesterday. I ask the Minister to withdraw and apologise.
R Doug WoolertonI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. With due respect, I am a member of the Finance and Expenditure Committee and can vouch for the fact that maybe Mr Foss did not wave his tax return around, but he definitely told the committee he was speaking about his own taxation situation.
I thank the member. There is another way of handling any contradiction about this matter, and it is not in this House; it is, in fact, to refer the matter by way of complaint.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. The member had the right to make a personal explanation. He did not seek leave to do that; he just belted it out without so much as a by your leave—and it was wrong for you to have received it.
That is not a point of order. In fact, I do not think there have been any valid points of order so far today.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I said in my point of order that what he did was not within the Standing Orders or Speakers’ rulings. That is a valid point of order.