4. JOHN KEY (National—Helensville) Link to this
to the Minister of Finance
Does he stand by his statement to the House yesterday that “I do not think even the New Zealand Herald journalists believe that I have the capacity to bully them.”?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Minister of Finance) Link to this
Yes, and I stand by my position. I did not, and never intended to, bully them.
Why then did senior New Zealand Herald journalist and senior political commentator John Armstrong write in his column on Saturday, 19 August that that was exactly what the Minister had done, by wording a press release that left the threat of retaliation hanging in the air?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I never did any such thing and I happen to disagree with John. I would be delighted if he would finally reply to the challenge to explain the moral difference, particularly given the New Zealand Herald editorial the previous day that compared the Labour Party to taxpayers having to pay back the tax they previously thought they did not have to pay.
If he had no intention all along of withdrawing the legislation retaliating against the New Zealand Herald’s owners, APN, and he was not trying to threaten them, why did he not make that clear when he made his statement on 15 August; and if he is not constantly trying to threaten the , why does he look up at them every time he answers a question?
Madam SPEAKERI have not called the Minister. Please be seated. I will not be calling the Minister until the Minister can be heard.
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I invite members to look up into the gallery and see Audrey Young smiling at me. She does not take this seriously, either.
Why did the Minister not follow the advice of his own press secretary, Mike Jaspers, who warned him not to give this release and who warned him of the implications of the release; and why did he go off on his own tangent, knowing exactly what the implications of this press release would be?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
That is completely incorrect. What the member may prefer to explain is why he invited his local police area commander to a National Party fund-raiser without telling the area commander it was a National Party fund-raiser.
Is the Minister aware that section 6 of the Tax Administration Act requires him to treat all taxpayers fairly and impartially, and, furthermore, to be seen to be treating all taxpayers fairly and impartially; and is it not a fact that raising the tax affairs of a newspaper critical of his Government puts him in breach of that very Act?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Apart from anything else, I suggest that the member read the Act again, and read who the responsible Minister is that the Act refers to.
Rodney HideIs it the Minister’s experience in politics that New Zealand Herald journalists are capable of being bullied; if so, would he share with the House how one does it?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I think one has to go back a long way, be significantly smaller, shorter, and wider, and grunt rather nastily.