1. Prime Minister—Parliamentary Precinct Buildings and Kaikōura Transport InfrastructureRON MARK (Deputy Leader—NZ First) to the Prime MinisterTUESDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2016Mr Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.Prayers.ORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSPrime Minister—Parliamentary Precinct Buildings and Kaikōura Transport Infrastructure1. RON MARK (Deputy Leader—NZ First) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements; if so how?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister): Yes; with fear and trepidation that I am about to be mauled by the member.Ron Mark: How does he stand by the statement on the new Parliamentary Palace" that "It just makes sense long term for us to own those premises." when he does not have the same view on the ownership of State houses or for that matter State power companies?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Yes I can assure the House that if that member got anywhere near ever being a Minister he would be the first one around measuring up the carpets and trying to check that it was a big enough office for his ego. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order!Ron Mark: If he says "the economics support that view" how much rent has the taxpayer paid for Bowen House since it was sold in 1998 by a National Government that included Ministers English Brownlee and the current Speaker?Mr SPEAKER: In so far as there is prime ministerial responsibility—the right honourable Hon Prime Minister.Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Firstly the member will appreciate that (a) I do not have that information. The Speaker's office may have that as he is someone who is responsible for the parliamentary precinct. Secondly I was not in Government in 1998 nor was I in Parliament but Winston Peters was.Ron Mark: If "the economics support that view" in 2016 does that not mean that the sale of Bowen House by the National Government was hardly prudent economic management on behalf of the hard-pressed taxpayer?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: No; I think circumstances change. But one thing that we are aware of now I think is that under an MMP environment where there are changing configurations in Parliament—and actually with the increase in security risks as we saw on Budget day in 2016—it makes sense overall to complete the new parliamentary complex. As I said at my post-Cabinet press conference yesterday it makes economic sense and I think it actually makes practical sense for Parliament as an operating unit.Ron Mark: If the 1998 privatisation of Government buildings which included Bowen House was meant to build "a broad Kiwi shareholding democracy" why was the company it was sold to subsequently taken over by Australians and de-listed?Mr SPEAKER: Again in so far as there may be some prime ministerial responsibility—the right honourable Prime Minister.Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Well (a) I do not have any knowledge of that and (b) I do not have any parliamentary responsibility for that. But given that the member is in a party called New Zealand First and that he seems to be opposed to everything that migrants and offshore people do I would have thought that he would like a parliamentary complex owned by the New Zealand taxpayer not a building owned by a foreigner. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! Before I call Ron Mark I just need a little less interjection from my right-hand side.Ron Mark: If in 1997 the cost to build the "Parliamentary Palace" then was $94 million how could the cost in 2016 possibly be $100 million particularly when it now includes a rebuild of the press gallery—is it not more likely to be in excess of $200 million?Mr SPEAKER: Again in so far as there may be prime ministerial responsibility the right honourable Prime Minister.Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Well the simple answer is that I do not know what they were proposing in 1997 but my guess is that it was a completely different complex. As the Speaker correctly said yesterday—in his capacity in regard to the parliamentary complex—this makes sense for the taxpayer because the ultimate cost of owning the building over a long period of time is actually cheaper than paying rent. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! A little less interjection now from both sides of the House.Denis O'Rourke: With regard to his many statements about Kaikōura's post-quake transport priorities does he see the extension of the Kaikōura Airport runway as an urgent priority for Government funding to enable larger aircraft safe access for passenger and freight services; if not why not?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: The advice I have is that that is something that the council may have discussions with Ngāi Tahu about. I think that from a freight perspective realistically the logical use is not necessarily flying things in all of the time. As was announced yesterday I think KiwiRail is looking to get into coastal shipping in a more significant way. That will allow a lot of pressure to be taken off the system by freight trucks and that will then allow some capacity for more to be trucked actually into Kaikōura itself.Denis O'Rourke: What assurance will he give to Kaikōura residents and businesses that the Government will fund essential upgrades as well as the current remedial work on the inland road to provide a resilient and higher-capacity alternative road to Christchurch?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: The member really needs to direct that question to the Minister of Transport who has responsibility via the Transport Agency for the remedial work on the damaged roads. Clearly the No. 1 priority is ultimately ensuring that there is a stable and long-term suitable road that would form State Highway 1. But of course over time there will be work done to the inland road.Denis O'Rourke: Will the Government provide funding to KiwiRail and to Lyttelton Port Co. to ensure that a new ferry service is provided between Wellington and Lyttelton at least for freight?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Yesterday KiwiRail indicated I think that it was interested in and would be pursuing the coastal shipping option. I think that fits in with the fact that many of the freight operators have indicated a desire to undertake firm commitments on coastal shipping while rail access is unavailable which it will be for a considerable period of time. What is used and how KiwiRail actually secures that vessel is a matter for a commercial operator."