2. Hon BILL ENGLISH (Deputy Leader—National) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Does she stand by her response to oral question No. 1 on 20 February that Mike Williams, president of the New Zealand Labour Party, had talked to her about the possible appointment of Owen Glenn as New Zealand’s honorary consul to Monaco; if so, what were the details of the conversation?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Deputy Prime Minister) Link to this
Yes; in general conversation he indicated to the Prime Minister that he was aware that Mr Glenn had expressed an interest in such a position.
Why would the appointment of a diplomatic representative of New Zealand be a matter discussed with Labour’s chief fundraiser, Mike Williams, unless it is connected to a donation of half a million dollars from Owen Glenn and a concealed interest-free loan of $100,000; or is Mr Williams consulted on all diplomatic appointments?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Mr Williams was not consulted. Mr Glenn had said something to Mr Williams, and Mr Williams mentioned something about that to the Prime Minister. One cannot be responsible for what other people say. I am sure the member does not want to be responsible for what Mr Key says. He did not mean to say that New Zealand wages should be cut; he meant to say that Australian wages should be cut.
In the Prime Minister’s discussions with Mr Glenn, has Mr Glenn explained to her what he was talking about when he said in March 2005 that the wrong thing had been done to his friend Bill Lloyd of Sovereign Yachts, that he—Mr Glenn—had taken a huge interest, and he thinks he had it resolved through the good services of Mike Williams, the president of the Labour Party, who has done a “mammoth job”; can she give an assurance that her Labour Government did not do any favours for its largest donor through the “mammoth job” done by Mike Williams, the president of the Labour Party?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I am sorry I excite the member so much. I did not realise I had that effect on him. I am not aware of any lengthy conversations the Prime Minister has had with Mr Glenn. She has had a couple of passing conversations with Mr Glenn. Mr Glenn also seems to recall conversations that never seem to have occurred.
Is the Prime Minister aware that Mike Williams is a director of Transit, which plans and funds the highway network, a director of ONTRACK, which owns the rail network, a director of Genesis Energy, one of the largest electricity generators, and a member of the boards of the Auckland transport authority, which plans and controls Auckland’s transport network, and of the Crown research institute GNS Science; can she assure the House that he has not used these influential positions to do favours for other donors in the way that he did favours for Owen Glenn?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I hate to tell the member as he drowns that that is not a straw he is clutching at.
Can the Prime Minister confirm to the House that the Minister of Finance has told the media Mike Williams tendered his resignation as president of the Labour Party yesterday?
Can the Prime Minister tell the House whether her coalition partner New Zealand First has advised her whether Owen Glenn is the mystery anonymous donor who placed nearly $100,000 in the New Zealand First bank account last year, and if not, does she intend to ask New Zealand First in order to find out whether a donation may have affected Winston Peters’ consideration of who to appoint as consul to Monaco?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
No, I cannot advise that, nor can I advise the House of any of the anonymous donors to the National Party, because they were all funded through something called the Waitemata Trust—some $2.3 million—which was handled by a man whom that Government appointed to chair Government quangos and boards. What is more, the National Party still will not tell us who their anonymous donors were. Let me finally add that anybody who thinks the appointment as an honorary consul is some kind of plum job does not know that most honorary consuls spend more than the amount of money—which is $5,000, plus $7,500 in expenses—that we give to them. Mr Glenn, who is a billionaire, has supposedly thought this was some plum financial reward, but he has really got on hard times very fast.
Does the Prime Minister have confidence in the ability of her coalition partner New Zealand First to clear up the issue of the large anonymous donation that suddenly appeared in its bank account late last year, when Dail Jones has said it happened, Winston Peters has said that Dail Jones is completely wrong and that Owen Glenn was not the anonymous donor, but Owen Glenn’s PR company will not say whether he was the donor?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
The Prime Minister is not responsible for any donations that may have been given to any other political party. She would, however, welcome the opportunity to become responsible for that and look into the National Party’s anonymous donations.
How does the Prime Minister think it looks to the public that she wants to take responsibility for large anonymous donations to political parties, and that while she was pushing through legislation to stop that practice, she was party to arrangements behind closed doors with an expatriate billionaire to give an interest-free loan that was concealed from the public?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Firstly, the main donation given by Mr Glenn was made public at the time. Secondly, the donation of an amount of forgone interest, which, of course, is the actual donation, not the $100,000 loan, was going to be declared as part of the Labour Party’s annual report. Mr Williams made an honest mistake. Out of that, Mr English is trying to build a great pile of something large, smelly, and brown, and it will not wash.
Rodney HideDoes the Prime Minister agree that billionaire Mr Owen Glenn’s generosity is greatly assisted by his living in a tax haven, and is it not a tad ironic that Labour and New Zealand First’s one fat-cat mate has poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into political parties that punish hard-working Kiwis with punitive tax—
R Doug WoolertonI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. We have no knowledge of this man, and Rodney Hide cannot say that.
Madam SPEAKERWell, he said it, but it is a matter of debate. [ Interruption] Points of order are heard in silence, and that is the last time I will remind members of that rule. That was not a point of order. It is a matter of debate.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. It is generally the case that in speaking to the House, one is not meant to mislead the House deliberately. I think it also applies in points of order. Although the member said New Zealand First had no knowledge of Owen Glenn, in fact, the leader of New Zealand First had breakfast with him, and that is well documented.
Does the Prime Minister agree that billionaire Mr Owen Glenn’s generosity is greatly assisted because he lives in a tax haven, and is it not a tad ironic that Labour and New Zealand First’s one fat-cat mate has poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into political parties that punish hard-working Kiwis with punitive tax rates, which Mr Glenn does not have to pay, and on top of that he gets a gong for his trouble, while hard-working Kiwis get nothing?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Monaco is a very small principality, which exists largely as a casino on the borders of France. If the gentleman opposite thinks a country of 4.2 million in the South-west Pacific can exist as a casino on the borders of France, he is totally away with the fairies.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I struggle to see how that answer began to address the question.
Can the Prime Minister promise the House that tonight at the opening of the Auckland business school she will sit with Owen Glenn and allow herself to be photographed with him?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Yes, but I can assure him she will not be hongi-ing Tame Iti at the same time.