3. SUE KEDGLEY (Green) Link to this
to the Minister of Agriculture
Is he confident that the Pork Industry Board is fulfilling its core functions of increasing the demand for New Zealand pork products and maintaining the confidence of consumers of pork products; if so, why?
Hon DAVID CARTER (Minister of Agriculture) Link to this
It is attempting to do so, but it clearly has some challenging issues that it needs to address.
Does he consider that the Pork Industry Board’s recent actions of taking legal action to stop the release of a new pig code, keeping audits of pig farms secret, and obtaining information on animal rights activists are likely to undermine consumer confidence in the Pork Industry Board and in pork products generally; if not, why not?
The Pork Industry Board certainly needs to be aware that the perception of some of its actions is not helping it in marketing its products. I think the board needs to be far more proactive about engaging with consumers about the benefits of New Zealand pork.
Can he confirm that as Minister of Agriculture he has specific statutory powers, which are set out in schedule 2 of the Pork Industry Board Act, to remove directors of the board if they breach any duty set out in schedule 1 of the Act?
I can confirm that under the Act I have some quite strong statutory roles, but at the end of the day they are relatively limited in respect of the allegations that have been made against the Pork Industry Board over recent weeks.
Can he further confirm that the directors of the Pork Industry Board have a duty under the Act to act in good faith at all times, and would he consider using his powers to remove directors if they were found not to be acting in good faith?
Does he consider that the Pork Industry Board acted in good faith when it sought to evade the provisions of the Official Information Act so that the results of a nationwide audit of pig farms could not be released publicly?
As I stated to the member earlier, any action by the Pork Industry Board in respect of its compliance with the Official Information Act is a matter that the member needs to take up with the Ombudsman.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I did quite deliberately and specifically ask whether he considered that the Pork Industry Board acted in good faith on this matter. That was the question. It was very deliberately phrased, and I would appreciate it if the Minister could answer it.
Mr SPEAKERThe Minister replied that the matter the member referred to is a matter for the board, not for the Minister, and because he is not responsible for that he does not need to express an opinion on it.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I was asking whether he considered that the board had acted in good faith, and it is relevant because the Minister can sack members of the board if they do not act in good faith. So it was quite a specific question.
I certainly would not consider sacking any of the board members on the basis of the board’s compliance with the Official Information Act.
Does he consider that the board acted in good faith when it threatened to take the Government to court if it proceeded to release a new pig code of animal welfare that would call, amongst other things, for a phasing out of the use of sow stalls?
I am unaware that the Pork Industry Board actually threatened the Government; I think at that stage it was threatening the process undertaken by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee.
What would it take for this Minister to sack or to make changes to the Port Industry Board given that the board has been steadily undermining consumer confidence in pork and has been exposed for repeatedly acting in bad faith?
I think that member has done everything she can possibly do to undermine New Zealand’s confidence in the pork industry of New Zealand.
I seek leave to table the Animal Welfare (Treatment of Animals Amendment) Bill, which would phase out sow crates.