12. PHIL HEATLEY (National—Whangarei) Link to this
to the Minister of Housing
Does he have confidence in the chairman of Housing New Zealand Corporation; if so, why?
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Housing) Link to this
Yes, because under his leadership Housing New Zealand Corporation has been delivering the Government’s social housing objectives efficiently and effectively.
What date did he find out that the chairman knew about the now famous gagging clause a full 2 weeks before the media, yet did nothing?
I have already delivered a personal explanation to the House correcting my answer to that question Mr Heatley asked me earlier. A mistake was made. The chairman apologised and informed me as soon as he became aware of it. I corrected my answer in this House at the first available opportunity. That is the end of the matter.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. We know that the Minister corrected the answer in the House—that is what has brought about all these questions. I asked the Minister what date he found out that the chairman knew he had made a mistake in telling the Minister the wrong dates. I want to know what date the Minister found out so that he could correct the answer in the House.
Madam SPEAKERHow can the Minister have confidence in the chairman when the chairman failed to tell him that he knew about the gagging clause, even though there was widespread adverse publicity week in and week out about what the chairman knew and when he knew it, and why did the chairman not tell him he already knew about the gagging clause?
We have spoken at length about this issue already in the House. I can once again assure the House that as soon as the chairperson informed me of this matter—
On the first available day—it was during the parliamentary adjournment. On the first sitting day, in the first 2 minutes of the House, I corrected the answer.
Why did only media pressure convince the chairman that the gagging clause was severe enough to warrant an Auditor-General’s inquiry, and not the chairman’s own conscience and professionalism?
It seems to me that to answer that would be quite speculative. I have absolute confidence that as soon as the chairman became aware of the matter Mr Heatley initially raised he spoke to me about it. I have to say that throughout this process the chair of the corporation has acted promptly. Indeed, the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General’s report tabled in this House says that there was no wrongdoing.
Why did the chairman not ask for an external Auditor-General’s inquiry into the gagging clause when he found out about it—why did he delay for 2 or 3 weeks until the media put pressure on him to call an inquiry?
The member again seems to be confused over timing issues. We have already been through these issues several times in the House. I would like to repeat for the members who seem to be rather slow at picking it up that we acted very promptly. In fact, I could spend a considerable amount of time reading out media quotes about how promptly and effectively the Government dealt with the issue.
Why does the Minister say that he has dealt with the issue and that the issue was not serious, when, firstly, the Auditor-General was called in, now the chief executive is going home to Australia, and Gerald Coles’ job is still in limbo?