1. Hon ANNETTE KING (Deputy Leader—Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Finance
Will the Government tell New Zealanders before the election which assets, if any, they will sell if they are re-elected?
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance) Link to this
The Government has made a firm commitment to New Zealanders that there will be no asset sales in this term of office and that, if the policy changes, we will say so and campaign on the issue in the 2011 election.
In light of that answer, has the policy changed since yesterday, when the Prime Minister said a decision on whether to sell Kiwibank would be made in the second term if National were re-elected, rather than telling New Zealanders before they go to the polls what assets were on the block?
No, the policy has not changed. We made a firm commitment that if there are any policy changes, we will say so before the election, and we will put it to the electorate in 2011.
Is Government policy regarding the sale of Kiwibank that it will not be sold, that there is no rational reason for selling it, and that there are no circumstances under which it will be sold, as stated by John Key, and does that represent a change of policy?
Chris TremainWhat is the Government’s priority for managing the $220 billion of assets it holds on behalf of taxpayers?
Our priority is to fix the damage done by the previous Government’s very poor management of the $200 billion worth of assets. The taxpayer owns $59 billion worth of financial assets, $52 billion worth of companies, and $109 billion worth of housing, schools, hospitals, prisons, and roads. It is a top priority for this Government to manage that $200 billion worth of assets better. I have to say that we have been able to make a lot of progress, because such a poor job was done by the previous Government.
Is it Government policy to sell Kiwibank eventually, as he said on 1 August 2008, before the election, or is the policy to never sell Kiwibank ever, as stated by John Key on at least nine occasions, including May 2007, 5, 6, and 7 August 2008, 21 and 22 October 2008, and 4 and 5 November 2008?
Did he agree with John Key when he refused to sign a pledge not to sell Kiwibank and then agree with him when he changed his mind and promised never ever to sell Kiwibank, and is he aware that, while John Key was sending mixed messages, Ministers like Nathan Guy were busy signing the pledge on behalf of his party?
As I outlined in answer to an earlier question, the Government has made a commitment to New Zealand that there will be no asset sales in this term of office, and that if the policy changes, we will say so. As I have pointed out to the member, we have spent our time on a much more important task, which is fixing—[ Interruption] I think that demonstrates the point that the last Government did nothing to manage $200 billion of assets properly in the interests of the taxpayer, and that is what we are doing, with considerable success.
Was his decision to raise the sale of Kiwibank a day after his Budget an attempt to foster debate about an asset sale or an attempt to foment trouble with his leader?
In the context of a Budget that has gone down pretty well because it is good for the economy and good for families, I was answering a question asked by the audience.
I seek leave to table a pledge, signed by Nathan Guy, pledging that his party will not initiate or support the sale of Kiwibank.
Mr SPEAKERI seek leave to table a copy of a pledge signed by all party leaders except John Key, who has now said that he would never ever sell Kiwibank, anyway.
Leave is sought. I presume it is to make a personal explanation. Leave is sought to make a personal explanation. [ Interruption] I have to put the leave to the House. Is there any objection to leave being given? There is no objection.