10. Question No. 10—TransportCHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Associate Minister of TransportQuestion No. 10—Transport 10. CHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Associate Minister of Transport: What were the first three paragraphs not including salutations of the letter she wrote on 26 March 2019 to Hon Phil Twyford Minister of Transport regarding the Let's Get Wellington Moving indicative package?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Associate Minister of Transport): It is in the public interest for the three parties of Government to be able to have free and frank discussions before decisions are made. This is particularly the case in an MMP Government where all parties need to be able to—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume her seat. As a member from the Hutt Valley I actually have some interest in the answer to this question and I would like to be able to hear it. That will require there to be a lot more quiet especially from that quadrant of the House. Chris Bishop: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I just wonder if you could ask the Minister to start from the beginning because I couldn't hear it either. SPEAKER: No. Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: This is particularly the case in an MMP Government where all parties need to be able to have free discussions in a relationship of trust and confidence and in a timely manner. Accordingly and in line with Speaker's ruling 176/5 I do not consider it in the public interest to provide the member with further detail about the content of a letter that details matters for political consultation.Chris Bishop: Is she aware of the Chief Ombudsman's investigation launched this morning into whether or not the letter should be released; and if the Ombudsman recommends that her letter should be released publicly will she do so? SPEAKER: Oh no it's probably not for me to interpret the Ombudsmen Act for the member but—Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: Kia orana Mr Speaker. Yes to the first part of the question.Chris Bishop: Was her 26 March 2019 letter to Phil Twyford sent on ministerial letterhead?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: The member will be aware that while I am Associate Minister of Transport I am also the Green Party spokesperson on transport issues. The letter highlighted the Green Party's position on aspects of the transport project. As I've already stated I do not consider it in the public interest to provide the member with further detail about the content of a letter that details matters of political consultation and I'm not going to go through a yes or no answer—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Order!Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: —to every question the member has about the content of the letter.SPEAKER: All right. Well unfortunately because of the noise I couldn't hear a direct answer to the question. [Interruption] Who interjected then?Ian McKelvie: I withdraw and apologise Mr Speaker. [Interruption] SPEAKER: Right well you two can withdraw and apologise too.Maureen Pugh: I withdraw and apologise.Simeon Brown: I withdraw and apologise.SPEAKER: And the three of you can leave the Chamber. Maureen Pugh withdrew from the Chamber. Simeon Brown withdrew from the Chamber. Ian McKelvie withdrew from the Chamber. SPEAKER: Now the point that I was attempting to make is that it is within the rights of the Minister to say that she will not answer a question of this type because it's not in the public interest. I would have thought that unless there is something extraordinary that we do not currently understand relating to this letter the type of letterhead that was used would not get that public interest protection. Having said that it is the Minister's decision and not the House's. So is the Minister saying that it is not in the public interest to tell us what letterhead the letter was written on?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: I can confirm that the letter was written in my capacity as transport spokesperson for the Green Party.SPEAKER: I'm now going to ask the Minister to once again actually address the question that was asked.Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: And the Speaker believes it's in the public interest to answer details about letterhead—is that really what the member's interested in? I'm happy to answer the question. As it happens I had only one type of letterhead but that is something I will be changing.SPEAKER: Well that might be a lesson for members to answer questions directly. Chris Bishop: Why is she relying on an Ombudsman opinion about Green Party emails to a Minister as justification for not releasing the letter when she wrote the letter to Minister Twyford as an Associate Minister of Transport on ministerial letterhead and has answered written and oral questions about the letter in that capacity?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: The content of the letter was very much about political consultation and that is how we are treating the letter from now on.Chris Bishop: Has the Hon Phil Twyford advised her not to release the letter to them?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: No.