Peck Mark: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Peck Mark: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:624;Page:19699] 
7.  
MARK PECK (Labour—Invercargill) 
 to the  
Minister for State Owned Enterprises 
: What reports if any has he received regarding the sale of State-owned enterprises? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN (Minister for State Owned Enterprises) 
: 
 I have seen a survey showing that 79 percent of New Zealanders oppose State-owned asset sales. This Government’s policy is that no State enterprises will be sold. 
Mark Peck 
: What other reports has the Minister seen on State-owned assets? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: I have seen a report that indicates a return to the failed policy of selling off State-owned enterprises. That report is from the National Party. My advice to the 79 percent of New Zealanders who oppose the sale of State-owned enterprises is to strongly oppose National’s policy of flogging off the family silver. 
John Key 
: Does the Minister support State-owned enterprise New Zealand Post’s decision to sell 50 percent of its courier business to German-controlled DHL Worldwide Express and if that is in line with the kinds of policies advocated by the Labour Party will he now be campaigning against the policies of the party he belongs to? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: As that member well knows that is a joint venture not the sale of New Zealand Post. Of course the point is that that member actually wants to sell New Zealand Post and Kiwibank. He cannot sell them just yet because he knows that 79 percent of New Zealanders are against that. So he talks doubletalk and weasel words but everybody knows what National is up to—it wants to flog off State-owned enterprises. 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: Has the Minister seen the transcript of a radio interview with Mr John Key where he said that the National Party’s new spending allowance would be $300 to $400 million a year—not enough even to meet the growth in tertiary education alone; if so is it true under that circumstance that it would have to sell every State asset off as fast as possible simply in order to stand still? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: There is no ministerial responsibility for the second part of that question but the Minister can address the first part. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I have just noted that a few moments ago you were very firm with the deputy leader of National Gerry Brownlee about questions that are wide of the mark. You said that the second part of Dr Cullen’s question was outside ministerial responsibility. The first part of Dr Cullen’s question was entirely about Budget estimates and the level of expenditure. There is absolutely nothing in the primary question in that regard. If you are to be consistent with the rulings you have given Gerry Brownlee there is no way that you can allow the first part of that question. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I accept the member’s argument so the question is out of order. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I seek leave to table a long list amounting to $9 billion of State assets sold by Labour when last in Government at a time when Mr Swain was hankering to be a member of Parliament and Dr Cullen was one. 
Document not tabled. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I seek leave to table the Toll Holdings transaction in which Dr Cullen gaily sold off for the second time ownership of our railway service in this country. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. The document will not be tabled. 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: I seek leave to table a survey that shows that 79 percent of New Zealanders are opposed to National’s State-owned enterprise sell-off policy. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes there is. It will not be tabled.