7. Dr the Hon LOCKWOOD SMITH (National—Rodney) Link to this
to the Minister of Immigration
How long after his 23 June 2005 letter to Taito Phillip Field detailing his decision to issue a special direction for a work visa for Sunan Siriwan did the former Associate Minister of Immigration, the Hon Damien O’Connor, become aware that Mr Siriwan was allegedly working for Taito Phillip Field and staying at his house in Samoa, given the Minister’s statement to the Ingram inquiry that he would have “absolutely rejected” Mr Field’s advocacy for Mr Siriwan to be granted a 2-year work permit if he had been aware of that?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Minister of Immigration) Link to this
I am advised that the Ingram report, at paragraph 153, notes that the former Associate Minister of Immigration advised Dr Noel Ingram QC that he was “unable to recall precisely when he became aware of the allegation”. However, the Ingram report also records that Mr O’Connor was not aware of the information prior to or at the time he signed the letter on 23 June 2005.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Why is it so difficult for this Minister to be truthful to this House about the facts; why can he not confirm—
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. That question is clearly outside the Standing Orders already. Although I do not want to sound like Mr Peters, I think it is important that standards are applied to the National Party, as well as to other parties.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
My question was very specific. I know that the Minister has in his possession the correct answer to it. He did not give it to the House.
Madam SPEAKERI think the member could rephrase his question without the implication of untruthfulness being expressed as explicitly as the member did. The meaning of the question can come through, to comply with the standards of the House.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Why can the Minister not simply be upfront with the truth with this House, and confirm that in fact it was within 5 days of Mr O’Connor writing to Taito Phillip Field with his decision on 23 June that the Ingram inquiry found that Damien O’Connor was aware unequivocally that Mr Siriwan was working on Phillip Field’s house in Samoa?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
What I can confirm is that I have received no such advice as that alleged by the member.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Why did the Minister tell Parliament on 26 July last year that Mr O’Connor did not revoke his special direction because he “believed that the new information would be taken into account in the department’s processes and that no visa would be issued.”, when Mr O’Connor has said publicly that when he did receive the information he ignored it because he trusted his Labour Party colleague?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
What is clear is that when Mr O’Connor’s office received an email from Mr Williams on 12 September 2005, Mr O’Connor issued a press statement that same day advising that he was reviewing the decision. He then made a decision by 19 September to insert a flag in the department’s application management system requiring that no visa be issued without reference to his office. No visa was issued. Mr Sunan Siriwan and his family have never returned to New Zealand. They reside, I understand, in Thailand.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Why did he tell Parliament on 26 July last year that when Damien O’Connor realised that the new information on Taito Phillip Field would not be taken into account in the department’s processes for issuing a visa to Sunan Siriwan he acted to reverse his decision, when Damien O’Connor has admitted publicly that the reason he did not act to reverse his decision immediately was that he ignored the new information because he trusted his Labour Party colleague?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
Mr O’Connor’s action in recording the flag in the application management system is a matter of record. The precise time when Mr O’Connor may have first been alerted by other means was not clear in the Ingram report. That is stated at paragraph 158, and I rely upon that.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Why did this Minister tell Parliament on 3 August last year that “the Associate Minister”, Damien O’Connor, “did act unequivocally to ensure that the gentleman’s”—that is, Sunan Siriwan’s—“visa was not issued”, when Damien O’Connor has now admitted publicly that he did not take any action because he trusted his Labour Party colleague?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
For the third time I can confirm that Mr O’Connor obviously did take action, because on 19 September he put a flag in the application management system. I am not responsible for the amount of time that Mr O’Connor may have taken to reach that decision.