Jones Shane: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeJones Shane: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 13 February 2014. Volume:696;Page:15919. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]2.Hon SHANE JONES (Labour) to theMinister of Commerce: Is he aware of demands being made by the Countdown supermarket group for retrospective payments from New Zealand suppliers with threats Countdown will not stock their products?Hon CRAIG FOSS (Minister of Commerce): I am aware of serious allegations that were raised on this matter yesterday in the House. I understand that a complaint has been made to the Commerce Commission about these allegations. The Commerce Commission will now go through its formal processes to consider this complaint. Because of the seriousness of these allegations I have also written to the Commerce Commission asking it to keep me informed as appropriate as it examines this matter.Hon Shane Jones: Had he received any information prior to yesterday from any source that tactics like these have been used in New Zealand supermarkets?Hon CRAIG FOSS: I am not aware of any information that I have received regarding the specific matters that the member mentioned under the privilege of the House yesterday.Hon Shane Jones: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That is not the question that was asked.Mr SPEAKER: Order! No I listened very carefully to the question and on this occasion I think the Minister has adequately addressed the question. The member has further supplementary questions. I invite him to use them.Hon Shane Jones: I ask again: what has he done to protect New Zealand suppliers workers from unprincipled predatory behaviour from the Countdown supermarket group?Hon CRAIG FOSS: The Commerce Act is an Act that administers all competition law in New Zealand. It has been updated over the years and there is recourse in that Act to deal with very serious and new allegations that were made yesterday in the House about the particular supermarket sector.Hon Shane Jones: Does he believe that it is ethical and acceptable for Countdown to abuse its position to threaten suppliers; if not will he act to deal with this or do nothing?Hon CRAIG FOSS: The allegations made yesterday are of deep concern to me. They are serious allegations that could have serious implications. That is why I have written to the Commerce Commission bringing these matters to their attention and asking to be kept briefed of their activities as they pursue this complaint.Hon Shane Jones: Why has this Minister sold out New Zealand businesses and suppliers to the Australian supermarket Countdown?Hon CRAIG FOSS: This Government has done more than previous Governments to ensure a robust fair transparent and competitive environment for all New Zealand businesses big and small. I could list those matters but it might take too long.Hon Shane Jones: Given that almost a year ago today the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission announced an investigation into Australian supermarkets’ use of these shakedown tactics did he ever initiate any investigations or even ask any questions of Countdown or the supermarket sector as a whole given that Countdown’s parent company Woolworths also operates in a duopoly over there?Hon CRAIG FOSS: I have no responsibility for what the Australians are doing but yes we do keep a watching brief on what is going on over there. I do note that there are ongoing inquiries in this sector in Australia which we are keeping an eye on but they are much wider than the specific issues that the member mentioned.Hon Shane Jones: I seek the leave of the House to table a letter written by myself to Dr Berry the chair of the Commerce Commission.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought for permission to table that particular letter. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be so tabled. [Interruption] Order! I understood there was no objection. Was there objection? I am going to ask the member to put the leave again so I can be clear.Hon Shane Jones: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It was clearly evident to all concerned; no one dissented.Mr SPEAKER: Order! No—[Interruption] Order! There appears to be some doubt about that. I think it is easily tidied up. If the member simply seeks leave again I will put the leave and I will listen very carefully and if—[Interruption] No there was a suggestion made that there was an objection. I doubt whether there will be. I want to be clear.Hon Shane Jones: I seek leave to table a letter written by myself to Dr Berry of the Commerce Commission.Mr SPEAKER: Right; leave is sought to table that particular letter. Is there any objection? There is none. The letter can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.