6. SHANE JONES (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Finance
What is the Government’s policy with respect to ownership of and access to public services?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Minister of Finance) Link to this
I thank the member for his question. This Government believes in a high level of public ownership of public services, but, more important, it believes that access to those services should be on the basis of need. That is why, for example, we have been so active in making visits to the doctor cheaper, making the obtaining of prescriptions cheaper, limiting the increase in student fees, and introducing a range of other measures.
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Can I thank the member for his even better question. I have received a report of a poorly attended public meeting called by the self-described most famous man in Auckland, John Key, and other National MPs. At this meeting Mr Tau Henare is reported as saying: “Everything will be simpler for everyone when everything is made user-pays.” It will be interesting to see how this policy area will be “inoculated”, to use the term used in the book The Hollow Men.
Gerry BrownleeWould the Minister consider the actions of Television New Zealand in making available its satellite broadcast unit to Commodore Frank Bainimarama to assist his overthrow of the democratically elected Government of Fiji to be consistent with the policy of the Minister’s Government in respect of the use of, ownership of, and access to public services?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
If that is true, certain—[ Interruption] I have no evidence. I have no reports. Mr Brownlee’s word is not sufficient on this matter, in the absence of a proper report, I have to say. I invited the member previously to seek leave to move a motion, without debate, in the House deploring that action. He did not do so. However, had Mr GuyonEspiner been included in the deal, I might have taken a different view!
Peter BrownWill the Minister confirm that regardless of the Government’s policy in respect of maintaining ownership of, and access to, public services, any strategic asset sales in this current parliamentary term would constitute a breach of the confidence and supply agreement between Labour and New Zealand First?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I am happy to confirm that, and, equally important, it would be in breach of the Labour Party manifesto.
If the Minister accepts the allegation that Television New Zealand made its satellite broadcast unit available to the Commodore in Fiji, why has he not taken time, since it was brought up this afternoon, to find out just exactly what Television New Zealand was up to, or is it now the Government’s policy to encourage such reality television?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I would not regard the Fijian coup as reality television, at all, apart from anything else; it seems to be unreality television, as far as I can see. The member may also have noticed that I have been in the House. It is my job. I am the Leader of the House, and given the number of points of order that the member raises all the time, I have to pay attention right the way through.