12. Hon DAVID CARTER (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Agriculture
Does he have confidence in his ministry; if so, why?
Hon DAVID PARKERIs it acceptable that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s 2008 policy group staff conference cost over $500 per head, which is more than double the cost of the same conference in 2007; if so, why?
I am unable to help the member in respect of that particular issue. If he wishes to put down a primary question on it, I am sure it will be answered. I would note that during the period of this Government the good efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry have helped the agricultural industry increase its export earnings from approximately $16 billion in the year ended June 1999 to $23.5 billion in the year ended March 2008.
If one considers that the delegates at the conference enjoyed sumptuous food such as tiger prawns and venison, washed down with Riverstone Reserve sauvignon blanc, and heard speeches from people such as the Minister himself, can the Minister explain why the feedback from those attending the conference included comments such as “Long and boring.” and “Basically, we’ve heard it, seen it, and read it all before.”?
Does the Minister support the presentation made by the political commentator Colin James to the conference that said “National is odds-on to be the next Government.” and that National offers “fresh leadership”; and can he explain what prompted the memo from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to his office the very next day saying that the ministry “would have been better advised not to have used Mr James”?
I am not sure whether the Minister heard the whole of Colin James’ presentation, but I can only suppose that it was given before the latest faux pas by the National Party over subsequent weeks disclosing its intention to increase debt as a proportion of GDP, to sell Kiwibank, to privatise accident compensation, to decrease the rate of contribution to the Superannuation Fund, and to do other things that are obviously not in the interests of voters.
Can the Minister explain why the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry felt the need to screen repeated clips of Yes, Minister at the conference; was it a reflection of the fact that his own ministry now treats him much as Sir Humphrey treated the Hon Jim Hacker MP?
I can confirm that the Minister responsible for Climate Change Issues, who has regular interactions with the Minister of Agriculture, understands him to be a most competent Minister. Because of the holistic approach taken by the Minister of Agriculture to issues like trade access overseas, scientific research, and technology transfer, as well as sustainability issues, the agriculture industry is marching forward.