10. BRENDON BURNS (Labour—Christchurch Central) Link to this
to the Minister of Broadcasting
What is the one major achievement in broadcasting he would most like to celebrate?
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Minister of Broadcasting) Link to this
There are a number of achievements in broadcasting under this Government, all of equal merit. Legislation is progressing through the House to repeal the failed Television New Zealand (TVNZ) charter, and to free TVNZ from its ridiculous, unworkable mandate. We have taken that charter funding—
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I apologise to the member, but in the interest of the “Champion of the Valley”, I note that the—
Mr SPEAKERNo, no. Because of the way the member commenced his point of order, I am not going to accept that point of order.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. That is a description that you have approved for the member: the “Champion of the Valley”. You have approved that, sir.
The member will resume his seat for the time being. If that is the case, I apologise to the member, and I will investigate the approval. But I still think the point of order was probably out of order, because we had passed that question. We are now on to question number 10. The Minister should really not have been interrupted in answering it.
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN Link to this
I will start from the top again, shall I? There are a number of achievements in broadcasting under this Government, all of equal merit. Legislation is progressing through the House to repeal the failed TVNZ charter, and to free TVNZ from its ridiculous, unworkable mandate. We have taken that charter funding, which was not delivering quality content, and used it to set up the $15 million—
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. My question was quite specific. It asked the Minister to name one major achievement.
A point of order is being heard. It was very difficult for me to hear exactly what the Minister was saying, because of the noise level. The question does indeed ask that: “What is the one major achievement in broadcasting he would most like to celebrate?”. It is a primary question, so I would ask the Minister to start again, and share with us the one major achievement he would most like to celebrate.
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN Link to this
I guess, really, I would have to say that it is setting a clear direction for TVNZ, repealing the TVNZ charter—the unworkable mandate that that organisation was left with by the previous Government—and letting TVNZ get on and do what it does best.
Does the Minister stand by his statement that “We have just been through a recession and New Zealanders would be expecting all public money to be accounted for and spent prudently”; if so, what do we take from his belated judgment when he happily attended a $50,000 celebration hosted with taxpayers’ money by NZ on Air?
Hon Rodney HideI raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I am just wondering whether that question is in order, given the primary question. The question was about what the one thing would be that the Minister would like to celebrate, and then the member talked about the recession, and so on, and so forth. It does not follow.
I think it is the kind of primary question that leaves wide range for supplementary questions. I think we are all familiar with that kind of primary question. The reference to the recession was in passing, and was getting on to the question about some function that the Minister attended.
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN Link to this
Yes, I do; despite the impression that that member is trying to create, in what is really a thinly veiled personal attack, I was invited as the Minister of Broadcasting to deliver a speech and present an award at a function to celebrate 21 years of New Zealand music. Given a choice, most people would prefer to be at home with family in the evening, rather than at a work-related function, but I would not be doing my job if I did not turn up to give speeches and to present awards. At the function in question, I performed my ministerial duties, and left soon after. I point out that my attendance at this function where I was giving a speech and presenting an award could not be compared to Mr Burns’ attendance at the opening of the Marque Hotel in Christchurch, where he turned up, ate a gourmet meal, drank a few glasses of wine, gave no speech, served no purpose, spoke to no one, and went home.
I apologise to the member. I ask the Government benches, on this occasion, please, for a little courtesy.
How many of the Minister’s staff and other National MPs also attended the NZ On Air party at the Powerstation, and what would the total cost have been, at $200 a head, for him and hangers-on to party at the taxpayer’s expense?
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN Link to this
As when the crowd opposite was in Government, when a Minister gives a speech they take a ministerial adviser with them, as I did on this occasion. I know there was one other National MP there, and she was entitled to be there. As a constituency MP, she had been invited, so the member can do the maths.
Will we see better judgment from the Minister and some vision for the future of broadcasting before the next lavish, taxpayer-funded function he attends, or after, or is he waiting for the right speech notes to arrive?
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN Link to this
If the member would like to talk about vision for broadcasting, I will say we are delivering on a vision for a dynamic sector where the public has enhanced access to a full range of local and international content, delivered across multiple platforms. We are giving public broadcasters certainty in terms of funding, and clear direction in terms of expectations. I note that under the previous Government there was a real culture of excess, which was built up over a long time. We are seeing the last remnants of it now, but we are squeezing it out.
Rahui KateneWould he like to celebrate the fulfilment of the Crown’s Treaty and legal obligations to protect and promote Māori language through broadcasting, and is weakening the TVNZ charter the best way to achieve that?
Is the Minister aware that there are statutory and legal obligations on TVNZ as a result of the Privy Council’s findings in the New Zealand Māori Council broadcasting case in 1993, and what is he doing to implement those obligations?
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN Link to this
As explained yesterday, we are fulfilling those obligations through NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho, so there is plenty of money available for Māori broadcasting.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I asked about TVNZ’s obligations, not about NZ On Air or Te Māngai Pāho.
Is he aware that there are statutory and legal obligations on TVNZ as a result of the Privy Council’s findings in the New Zealand Māori Council broadcasting case in 1993, and what is he doing to implement those obligations?
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN Link to this
Yes, and they are being honoured through the new statutory functions for TVNZ.