2. Hon BILL ENGLISH (Deputy Leader—National) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Has she, or any member of her Cabinet, received correspondence from the chair of Air New Zealand expressing concern that she has used information given to her in confidence; if so, what was her response?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister) Link to this
Letters have been received expressing a view from Air New Zealand. I received no information from Air New Zealand, and I am advised that the information Air New Zealand gave other Ministers cannot be regarded as being subject to the confidentiality deed between it and the Government.
Can the Prime Minister confirm that she is bound by the confidentiality agreements, regardless of whether she received the information through officials or directly in person?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I would be bound by such an agreement if the information was confidential and subject to it. It was not.
Darren HughesHas the Prime Minister received any advice on whether the public debate on Air New Zealand’s charter flights has affected its reputation?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I have seen advice only today that Moody’s has affirmed—today—Air New Zealand’s current credit rating, and has actually improved its outlook from “stable” to “positive”. So I can only assume the airline is thought to be in good heart.
Keith LockeDid the Prime Minister have a duty to provide New Zealanders with appropriate information about Air New Zealand charters, such as that to Honiara; and how can that be at all wrong if there were no security issues for New Zealand, Australia, or Air New Zealand?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
As is well known, Air New Zealand regularly releases information about chartered flights itself. The fact is that I referred to a charter flight to Honiara 3 days after it had happened. Anyone who has been to the Solomons knows that it would not be a secret for too long that 3 days before, an Air New Zealand plane had landed at Henderson Airfield.
Does she recall her public statement in respect of Alexander Downer: “My response is the very day after he said that Air NZ flew Australian Defence Force troops to Honiara so perhaps things don’t get actioned very quickly in Australia,”; and what effect does she believe that statement had on Air New Zealand’s prospects of retaining substantial, profitable business with the Australian defence forces?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I would be surprised if it had any effect, because about 4 days before I made the statement, Mr Downer had told the New Zealand High Commissioner in Australia that Australia would not be using Air New Zealand charter flights in future.
Does the Prime Minister believe that it is appropriate for the Prime Minister to use confidential and other commercial information about Air New Zealand for political purposes, when the Government has signed an agreement that in letter and in spirit it has agreed not to do so?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I repeat: there can be no breach of confidentiality in talking about the fact that a plane had landed at Henderson Airfield in the Solomon Islands 3 days earlier, when a lot of people had seen it.
Hon Dr Michael Cullen Link to this
Can the Prime Minister confirm that the confidentiality agreement between Air New Zealand and the Government covers financial information relevant to such matters as the Public Finance Act, and that Treasury has advised that the information given to the Government in relation to the flight to Honiara could not actually come within that range?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I can absolutely confirm that that is the advice that Treasury has given Dr Cullen.
Madam SPEAKERIs it now the case that the Government believes that it can use any information in any way it likes for any political purpose, without any regard for the effect on Air New Zealand’s business or its value to shareholders and taxpayers?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
Of course not, and the question is transparently silly. [ Interruption]
This is what causes—please be seated; I am on my feet. Now, members, it is these exchanges across the House that cause disorder. I ask the member to ask his supplementary question.
Can we now take it that the Government’s response to the considered letter from the chairman of Air New Zealand is that he is wrong and does not know what he is talking about, that the Government can say what it likes to aggravate the Australian Government, that there has been no impact on Air New Zealand’s commercial interests, and that the Government will keep on with that activity—of using commercial information for its own political purposes?
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. The member for somewhere—where are you from, Trevor; Lower Hutt?—
Hon Trevor MallardRt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
The questions were transparently silly. I repeat: there was no commercial, in-confidence information released. There was information about a flight that had occurred publicly 3 days before that.
Is it now the Prime Minister’s stance that the chairman of Air New Zealand is wrong and should never have been concerned about it, that none of her actions have affected the relationship between the Australian Government and Air New Zealand, and that if it suits her political purposes she will continue to aggravate the Australian Government, with reckless disregard for Air New Zealand’s interests?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
Quite clearly, there has been no commercial, in-confidence information used. I can say to the member, who got the worst-ever result for the National Party, that this Government is very committed to good relations with the Australian Government.
Hon Chris CarterPlease continue. The pauses give opportunities for interventions, so would the member please just ask the question.
No, please be seated. Please be seated—you know that when the Speaker is on her feet, members do sit. Members are throwing points of disorder across the Chamber. If it happens again, I will ask members to leave the Chamber. Would you please just continue with question time, asking the questions and hearing the replies.
Can the Prime Minister recall a Securities Commission investigation into comments she made about Air New Zealand in 2001 that recommended guidelines be drawn up to guide Ministers on statements about public companies that the Government owned; is she aware of those guidelines, and has she complied with them?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
Yes, I am aware of the guidelines, and they have been complied with.