6. RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Following David Parker’s admission that he had “cut a corner and that was a mistake”, did she or her staff ask David Parker before he was reinstated into Cabinet whether there were any other corners that he might have cut that could compromise his ability to be an effective Minister; if so, was she satisfied with his response?
What is the Prime Minister’s response, then, to Mr Stephenson and Mr Clear swearing statements that David Parker made a false representation about the ownership of a major asset belonging to his company and arranged a series of preferential payments to creditors at a time when he knew his company to be insolvent?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I understand the matters referred to were dealt with in a normal liquidation process and no irregularities were found.
If Mr Clear and Mr Stephenson are telling the truth in their statements, would it be the Prime Minister’s opinion that Mr David Parker had done wrong?
Madam SPEAKERI do not think the Prime Minister is responsible for that. Would you like to rephrase the question? I am aware you have only a limited number of supplementary questions.
If Mr Clear and Mr Stephenson are telling the truth, would Mr Parker be of a standard acceptable to her Cabinet?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I simply repeat that these matters were subject to a normal liquidation process and no irregularities were found.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Has the Prime Minister seen Mr Hide’s interpretation of the recent investigation in respect of Mr Parker, which was that a 1999 document was a whitewash of an event that happened 6 years later, and what does she think of that?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
What I think is that Mr Hide is simply unable to accept the outcome of any investigation that he does not agree with.