5. R DOUG WOOLERTON (NZ First) Link to this
to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Has he received any reports regarding a New Zealander being held in a Polish prison?
Hon Maurice Williamson
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Minister of Foreign Affairs) Link to this
We do not have leadership problems in the New Zealand First Party. I have seen—[ Interruption] We do not have a leader to complain about in the way that the National Party has. I have seen several reports, mostly official reports from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade detailing its comprehensive efforts on behalf of Bruce Robinson, who is currently in jail in Poland. However, I also saw last night a hopelessly biased and inaccurate report from Television New Zealand’s programme that represented a totally false picture that the Government was doing absolutely nothing to help this man.
What, in fact, has been done by the Government to help Mr Robinson, and how does this correspond with the claims made by Close Up last night?
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
The New Zealand consul at the embassy in Warsaw has travelled to Katowice—a journey of 2 hours and 40 minutes each way—to attend Mr Robinson’s remand hearing, and to visit him in jail on four other occasions beginning in February of this year, and has, in addition, taken him New Zealand correspondence, newspapers, and fruit. The consul has worked actively with Mr Robinson’s lawyer and has lobbied prison authorities over the condition of Mr Robinson’s detention and successfully prevailed upon the national prosecutor’s office to allow Mr Robinson to make telephone calls to his family—something that the British Embassy confirmed is routinely denied their prisoners in jail in Poland. He has obtained confirmation that Mr Robinson’s family will be able to make four to five visits this month. Some New Zealand representatives in Poland are making every effort to assist Mr Robinson and his family. This directly contradicts the appalling inference left by Close Up last night.
Dianne Yates
Madam SPEAKER
Gerry BrownleeI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Winston Peters has just told the New Zealand Parliament that he thinks he can answer a question on the Polish penal system because he has some responsibility for it. Allowing this question would be turning the whole place into a complete joke.
Hon Dr Michael Cullen Link to this
The question asked whether the Minister made any attempts to change the Polish penal policy, and, indeed, it is a normal part of a Minister of Foreign Affairs’ duty to make representation to foreign Governments around a range of issues of this sort. I seem to recollect questions from the Opposition urging us to do it, on occasion.
I think I can just help by saying that perhaps he should answer the question. It would be nice to know that he is responsible for something.
That was not a point of order. That is exactly what creates disorder. Would the member Dianne Yates please ask the question again.
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
Contrary to the appalling inference—[ Interruption] That is possible, and, in the member’s case, is about to—[]—slowly, slowly, catchee monkey. Despite the many powers that a Minister of Foreign Affairs or, in fact, a Minister or Prime Minister of this country might have, we do not, contrary to that appalling inference left by last night, have the power to change the judicial or penal policy of Poland, any more than it has of changing ours.
Did Television New Zealand accurately portray the interest that the Minister has taken in this case?
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
Absolutely no. Television New Zealand last night completely misrepresented my letter to Mr Robinson’s family. Far from simply thanking them for their correspondence, my letter directly addressed the family’s concerns over the conditions under which Mr Robinson is being held, and set out the ministry’s efforts on his behalf; all of which Close Up knew before going to air, because my office sent them an email just after 11 o’clock yesterday morning with the details.
Why does the Minister believe that Close Up’s report is so at odds with other reports that he has received?
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
This is a very serious matter, I might say. It might sound laughable, but in Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and all around the world—as we demonstrated in Palestine recently, and in respect of Sooden—we go to every effort, at a cost of millions of dollars, on behalf of New Zealand people. Most of the reports are from reputable and highly professional Government agencies. [ Interruption]
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
I am trying to answer the question about some poor guy who is in jail in Poland. I thought they might take it—in view of how serious it is—65 people died, and 150 were injured; this is going to be a very serious case. Most of the reports are from a reputable and highly professional Government agency—[ Interruption] Well, Madam Speaker, you had a meeting on Tuesday, I understand. What happened?
Please, members. The question has been asked. The question is on a serious matter. Could we please allow the Minister to answer.
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
Most of the reports on this matter are from reputable and highly professional Government agencies. The other report is a desperate attempt, with baseless tabloid journalism by a failing news organisation and its washed-up head of news, Bill Ralston, to win back the hundreds of thousands of viewers who are deserting Television New Zealand in droves. If this is the best that Mr Ralston has to offer the viewing public of New Zealand, it is little wonder that those who care about accurate news coverage that puts the facts before the egos of journalists are crying for his head.
Hon Dr Nick SmithI think I can anticipate it, Dr Smith. The answer should relate to the question. It should also be succinct. So one more go—it is a serious matter.
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
Members will recall the question: “Why does the Minister believe that Close Up’s report is so at odds with other reports he has received?”. Speaking to the point of order, I say that the fact is that on Monday, the makers of the programme had an interview with the family and were apprised of all the facts on Tuesday morning. Despite that, they went ahead with that despicable programme with not a fact in it. I am here to defend myself, as I am entitled to.
I have asked for order, so please be seated. We have had a question. The question was in order. Would the Minister please address it without the references that he was making to other people, please.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I think it is quite unfair for you to expect that the House will maintain order when Mr Peters pleads that this is a serious matter—and I accept that the substance of it is—and then goes on to mount some sort of an attack on Television New Zealand because he did not like the way it portrayed his handling of this situation. The other point I make is that the way in which he peppers his answer with all sorts of unnecessary comments is likely to provoke disorder in the House.
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
I was asked why I believed, as Minister, that a certain report was at odds with the other reports I had received. I am setting out specifically why I believe that the report from Close Up last night was at odds. I am specifically setting out the facts. That is what the National Party does not like, but today it will get the facts.
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
I believe what I believe because the makers of Close Up did an interview with the Robinson family on Monday of this week. They were apprised of all the facts by my staff and others on Tuesday morning. Despite that, they went ahead with this programme with all sorts of innuendo and inference that suggested that my department was doing nothing. When I was in Poland on 4 and 5 July, because of logistics I could not get to see the man myself, but we did contemplate it. Last night’s programme, as I said, was a despicable effort by a head of news who has lost hundreds of thousands of viewers.
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
I seek leave to table a transcript of the Close Up programme on Television New Zealand last night, including an interview on Monday morning on
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
I seek leave to table a time line and details of the assistance to the Robinson family, got from the embassy in Warsaw.
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
I seek leave to table my letter to Mr Robinson’s family, dated 5 September.
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
I seek leave to table an email sent by my office to Close Up at 11.13 yesterday morning, detailing the efforts embassy staff had made to assist Mr Robinson.