5. Hon BRIAN DONNELLY (NZ First) Link to this
to the Minister of Local Government
Is he satisfied with the quality of evidence gathering, analysis of the issues, and conclusions drawn by the inquiry led by David Shand into local government rates, and does he believe the report adequately meets the terms of reference for the inquiry?
Hon MARK BURTON (Minister of Local Government) Link to this
The report—which, I should acknowledge, owes much to New Zealand First’s constructive engagement, particularly during the development of the terms of reference—is an extensive and significant piece of work, was completed in the required time frame. An across-Government work programme to respond to the report’s recommendations is now under way. As to the member’s second question, I believe that the panel sought in its report to address comprehensively the terms of reference.
Hon Brian Donnelly Link to this
Will the Minister confirm that this inquiry was initially called for by New Zealand First, that it was vigorously resisted by him and this Government, and that it was only when New Zealand First steadfastly held to its position in relation to the need for an independent inquiry that the Government finally relented, the night before Rodney Hide’s bill went to the vote?
I can happily confirm the first part of the member’s question—that this inquiry was actively promoted by New Zealand First. As to the second part, I can confirm that this Government was convinced by the vigour of, and the compelling arguments brought forward by, New Zealand First to reach a conclusion to proceed with such an inquiry.
Martin GallagherWith reference to the report, does the Government already have under way any work that potentially addresses any of the report’s very significant recommendations?
Yes, indeed. The Government has increased spending on the Rates Rebate Scheme by almost $50 million, and I have officials already reviewing a number of matters that have arisen as a result of the greater uptake of the scheme. Other allocations are $154 million over 10 years for drinking-water schemes, $150 million over 10 years for the Sanitary Works Subsidy Scheme, and $1.3 billion over 5 years for new transport funding, and a significant proportion of that will, of course, go on local projects. There are many, many more examples.
Hon Brian Donnelly Link to this
Have he or his staff been briefed on the details of the confidence and supply agreement with New Zealand First, and in particular the part that states: “The relationship between New Zealand First and the government will be based on good faith and no surprises.”, and does he believe that his failure to provide a timely pre - public release briefing to New Zealand First, his failure to inform New Zealand First of the press conference until the day it was to take place, the failure of his staff to send a copy of the report although they had promised to do so, and his complete exclusion of any reference to New Zealand First’s role in securing the inquiry demonstrate acting in good faith with no surprises?
Madam SPEAKER
Hon Trevor MallardKia ora! The one thing I cannot take responsibility for is the weather, which caused his plane to be cancelled; otherwise, he would have got to the briefing, which had been set up, as the member well knows, to occur prior to that.
Hon Brian Donnelly Link to this
Would the Minister consider taking lessons in how to treat confidence and supply partners from his fellow Minister Pete Hodgson, who, in stark contrast to the Minister’s own actions, gave credit where credit was due at the recent announcement of free doctors’ visits for under-sixes, including ensuring that my colleague Barbara Stewart was at the official photo opportunity, keeping her fully informed, and giving appropriate credit to New Zealand First in his press release; if not, why not?
Hon Brian Donnelly Link to this
Does the Minister understand what the terms “good faith” and “no surprises” mean, and if his poor judgment in this matter jeopardises the otherwise constructive relationship between New Zealand First and the Government, would he do the honourable thing and resign; if not, why not?
If I could take responsibility for the weather, I would, but I cannot. The member knows that good faith is a two-way street, and the briefing that had been set up could not be completed because the member could not get there. The plane he was booked on did not take off.
Hon Brian Donnelly Link to this
Will the Minister confirm that after cancelling three briefings, his office offered one the night before the so-called press release, the public release of this document, which he had not informed his New Zealand First counterpart was even going to occur, and that as a result of his office not allowing for that briefing until the day before, and not providing advice to the New Zealand First office until only an hour before the press conference, New Zealand First had to go into the whole thing without actually ever seeing the document?
At this point we part company. I cannot confirm all of those assertions. The briefing that was set up was confirmed as soon as it was able to be, which was when we had final confirmation of the availability of the chair of the panel, who had been overseas. It was important that we had him back in the country before we finally nailed down the release of the document. Secondly, the important thing is that it was simply the release of the document. It was not a response to it; it was a simple release. The primary job of the day was having the chair of the committee back in New Zealand to ensure that he could front the release of his committee’s document, which was what that occasion was about.
Hon Brian Donnelly Link to this
I seek leave to table an email from the Minister’s office to my office, sent at 10.12 a.m. on 28 August, advising that a media conference on the report would be held at 11.30—
Gerry BrownleeI seek leave for there to be an immediate vote in order to test the House’s confidence in the Government.
Hon Brian Donnelly Link to this
I seek leave to table for the Minister’s benefit a copy of the confidence and supply agreement with New Zealand First—