13. Dr WAYNE MAPP (National—North Shore) Link to this
to the Minister of Defence
Can the Minister confirm that following consultation with the Government, Air New Zealand, which is 80 percent owned by the Government, has recently been flying Australian combat troops who are on deployment to Iraq, and how does that fit with Government policy to have nothing to do with combat troops in Iraq, or is this some kind of covert foreign policy of plausible denial?
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. This is a question for which the Minister of Defence has no responsibility; it is wrongly addressed.
Hon Bill EnglishThe Minister of Defence has already issued a press statement—several hours ago, actually—covering this issue in some detail. When we were trying to work out who to ask, there was no evidence that the Minister of Foreign Affairs knew anything about it or knew what was going on, and it is unlikely he would have remembered if he had been told. But the Minister of Defence had put out a press statement, and we had no choice but to direct the question to the Minister who knew what was happening.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
With respect, that is not a point of order. If the member wants to bandy around insults, well, anybody can do that, but, Madam Speaker, you should have stopped him in his tracks when he first started,
Madam SPEAKERIf the Minister of Defence has no responsibility, he may transfer the question or he may address it.
Hon PHIL GOFF (Minister of Defence) Link to this
I was advised shortly before coming to the House that an article is to be produced tomorrow that suggests Air New Zealand undertook a commercial contract to transfer troops from Australia to Kuwait. I understand that if the Australian troops were going to Kuwait, then almost inevitably they would have been headed for Iraq. It is not this Government’s position to support such an action by Air New Zealand, and in fact Air New Zealand’s action, I think, is contrary to the wishes and to the views of this Government and maybe this House. However, the member will be aware that under the Companies Act it is not within the power of the Minister of Finance to direct Air New Zealand on commercial matters. However, it is within the power of this Government to make it absolutely clear to Air New Zealand that its actions as a flag carrier of New Zealand are inappropriate, and I intend to do that this afternoon.