1. Dr DON BRASH (Leader of the Opposition) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Is she satisfied that all Ministers referred to in the Ingram report acted with propriety at all times; if not, why not?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister) Link to this
Findings in respect of Mr Field are well known. No conflict of interest with his ministerial role was found, but the report did imply that errors of judgment were made by him as an MP. There were no findings that other Ministers acted with impropriety, and I am entirely satisfied with that.
Does the Prime Minister share the assessment of her former Minister Taito Phillip Field that all that is at issue here are “some inferences which may have been drawn from reporting of the Ingram report.”, or does she accept that the issues raised about Mr Field’s conduct as a Minister are more serious than that?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I have constantly said that the report implied errors of judgment, and I have pointed out that, as a result, Mr Field was not reinstated as a Minister.
Has the Prime Minister seen Mr Field’s statement: “Much of the evidence presented in the report was untested. Some inferences which may be drawn are inaccurate.”, and will she now agree that everyone’s best interests would be served by offering protection to those witnesses who refused to talk to the inquiry, and letting the truth emerge?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
The statement that the evidence was untested is, of course, entirely true, because it was not a court of law. But, as I have told the member a number of times, I consider that more than enough money has been spent on this matter.
Does the Prime Minister not understand that by declining to facilitate arrangements for Mr Keith Williams or any of the Thai nationals present at Mr Field’s house in Samoa to be interviewed by the Ingram inquiry, she leaves the clear impression that her then Minister of Immigration, Mr Paul Swain, and her then Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Phil Goff, discussed and gave certain assurances about Mr Siriwan’s immigration status at that meeting—as asserted by Mr Williams?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
Absolutely not, because I have total confidence in those Ministers—far more confidence than I have in Dr Brash’s propriety in respect of the Exclusive Brethren.
Whose account of the 17 May 2005 meeting of Damien O’Connor and Taito Phillip Field does she believe: Taito Phillip Field, who wrote the day after the meeting stating that, in the case of Mr Siriwan, Damien O’Connor would grant a special direction to cancel the 5-year penalty for his spouse and allow the reunification of Mr Siriwan with his spouse by granting him 2-year work permits to be issued in Apia; or Damien O’Connor, who advised Mr Ingram that the Siriwan case was not decided—as stated in Mr Field’s letter?