4. Hon BILL ENGLISH (National—Clutha-Southland) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Why did she make public comments about the possible reinstatement of David Parker to her Cabinet when the Companies Office has yet to complete its inquiry into declarations made by David Parker?
Why did she change the view she held on 21 March that Mr Parker had made mistakes serious enough for her to accept his resignation to a view on 28 March that the mistakes he had personally admitted were only “allegations”?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
Those are matters for the Companies Office to determine, and we will be guided by the facts.
Did any member of her office or her department, or any Minister’s office, seek or receive information, advice, or opinion from the Companies Office in relation to Mr Parker or the matters for which he is currently under investigation?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
Mr Parker has, of course, kept in touch with the leadership of the Labour Party. There has, I understand, been communication from the Companies Office to the head of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet about the pace of the inquiry. I do not want to comment on what may have occurred in those conversations, but I am satisfied that Mr Parker is keeping his leadership in the loop.
Is the Prime Minister telling the House that a statutory agency responsible for a decision over whether to prosecute a senior Minister in the current Government has been communicating with the Prime Minister’s department over the progress of that investigation?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
Obviously, I have made no request whatsoever for any information from the Companies Office, but—
Dr the Hon Lockwood SmithRt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
Settle down, Dr Smith. The member is very vocal at question time. [ Interruption]
Madam SPEAKERRt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I am directly answering the question by saying that my understanding is that the head of the Ministry of Economic Development spoke to the head of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet at a very early stage about the likely timing of the inquiry.
Can I take the Prime Minister’s statement to the House today as confirmation of rumours and allegations that personnel from her department contacted an officer of the Companies Office last week, and that that officer of the Companies Office provided written advice on the Companies Office view of Mr Parker’s declaration; and does she regard that as appropriate behaviour for a member of the Prime Minister’s department and for a statutory officer responsible for making a decision about whether to prosecute a senior member of her Government?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I have no advice of any such interaction as the member has referred to.
How come the Prime Minister, then, is aware of a discussion between the head of the Prime Minister’s department and the Companies Office; and how can anyone not construe that as pressure on the Companies Office from the political leadership of the Government to consider its view very carefully?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
Let me be very clear about what I have already told the member. The head of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet quite correctly reported to me that he had been phoned by the head of the Ministry of Economic Development.
Can the Prime Minister now confirm to the House that not only has somebody from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet been discussing these matters with the Companies Office, but those discussions have been reported to her; and how does she think that looks to a Parliament concerned that a statutory agency should be totally independent in making a decision about whether to prosecute a Minister?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
All that I can confirm is that, as I said in the previous answer, the head of the Ministry of Economic Development apparently contacted my head of department at a very early stage. It would have been in the day or two after the matter became public. My head of department quite properly reported that to me.
Can the Prime Minister then answer a question I asked earlier as to why she said on 21 March that Mr Parker’s actions were “mistakes serious enough for me to accept his resignation”, then a week later, after being briefed by the head of her department on discussions with the Companies Office, changed her view to one where she said that Mr Parker’s actions were only “allegations”?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I accepted his word. Since that time Mr Parker has been in communication with the leadership of his party, as is entirely proper.