1. Dr DON BRASH (Leader of the Opposition) Link to this
to the Minister of Finance
When will the Appropriation (Parliamentary Expenditure Validation) Bill passed by the House last week come into force?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Minister of Finance) Link to this
I am advised that it will very likely come into force tomorrow.
How will the public know whether political parties are honouring their commitments to pay back the amounts that were validated last week, given that the legislation makes no provision for that information to be published; or is it the case that the Government intends the public should never know whether those promises are actually being kept?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I do not know whether the member has kept his promise, in that respect. I know he has not paid back the GST on their broadcasting, because he stated so, publicly; and as to the other matters—[ Interruption] Oh, pay back the GST and the fine as well, eh? Why not pay the fine back, as well?
Shane JonesWhat are the ramifications of the bill for Parliamentary Service expenditure on items other than advertising?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I am sure Dr Brash will be glad to know that once the bill does come into force it will clarify the situation around the leaders’ fund expenditure on staff employed to assist in election campaigns.
Can the Minister confirm that he was advised by Treasury that the validating legislation is to be passed as part of the normal Budget legislative cycle; if so, why did he completely ignore that advice and ram validating legislation through the House under urgency?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
The member should not get Bryan Sinclair to write his questions. Treasury advised me of a range of options. We took one of those options.
Why was the Minister so concerned to pass validating legislation under urgency, even though Treasury made no such specific recommendation, when he shows so little concern about the fact that New Zealand First, which props up his Government, has refused to make any commitment to pay back any of the $160,000 it owes?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I am not responsible for New Zealand First’s decision, or indeed that of any political party in that respect.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Has the Minister received any reports into Television New Zealand, a State-owned enterprise, not taking action against the National Party for failing to meet its GST bill, and is that part of the validation legislation as well?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I have not received any advice on that matter. Clearly it is a matter for Television New Zealand. No doubt if shareholding Ministers even asked about that question, they would be accused of vindictive behaviour, by the National Party.
Does he accept that members of the public are entitled to know which parties are honouring their commitments to pay back the money they took; if so, why does his legislation make absolutely no provision for accountability and transparency in his mad dash to legalise the unlawful behaviour by him and his colleagues?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Apart from the fact that that gentleman has on occasion sought leave to pass validating legislation for his own overexpenditure that does not provide for the payment of the fine and the entering of the conviction that might otherwise occur, I remind him that there are parliamentary procedures and other statutory procedures under which he might try to seek the information.
Rodney Hide