O'Connor Damien: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
O'Connor Damien: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:642;Page:12003] 
11. 
LYNNE PILLAY (Labour—Waitakere) 
on behalf of  
SUE MORONEY (Labour) 
 to the  
Associate Minister of Health 
: What reports has he received on the success of the Government’s role in reducing smoking? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Associate Minister of Health) 
: 
 It is such good news. New Zealand Ireland and Finland were jointly awarded the Global Smokefree Partnership’s Extraordinary Award last week in recognition of their exceptional and outstanding commitment in the development of guidelines for Article 8 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This is an outstanding achievement for a lot of hard work done by a lot of very good officials. 
Lynne Pillay 
: What other reports has he received on the Government’s role in reducing smoking? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: The first New Zealand Tobacco Use Survey was released in June this year and shows that New Zealanders want to quit this habit that kills nearly 5000 of us every year. According to the survey two-thirds of smokers in this country have tried to quit in the past 5 years. I would also like to refer to another Health Sponsorship Council monitor survey that showed that 90 percent of the population support the right to live and work in a smoke-free environment—endorsement of this Government’s change the Smoke-free Environments Amendment Act 2003 which has been an outstanding success. 
Dr Jackie Blue 
: How is it that the Minister can say the Government’s role is an outstanding achievement when under his Government’s watch lung cancer rates in women are steadily rising and smoking remains high in young people in Maori and in Pacific Island people? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: It is true that we have some very sad statistics around lung cancer rates as a result of years of neglect by National Governments in this policy area. There have been improvements although we would like to see more in the area of reducing smoking rates particularly with young Maori women. That is why we committed over $10 million extra in this area to reduce smoking across New Zealand. 
Dr Jackie Blue 
: I seek leave to table page 62 of the Ministry of Health’s  
Cancer: New Registrations and Deaths 2003 
— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes there is. 
Dr Jackie Blue 
: I seek leave to table a report by Action on Smoking and Health that shows smoking remains high in Maori and Pacific Islanders and in young people. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes there is. 
Dr Jackie Blue 
: I seek leave to table the 2005  
New Zealand Medical Journal 
 article by Shaun Holt which seriously questions the Government’s— 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: Can the Minister confirm that when the smoke-free legislation came before the House it was opposed by the overwhelming majority of National members and in fact they put in their manifesto a pledge to repeal it and is he aware that that is still their position and is that the position of Dr Coleman for example— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: That is not acceptable. The Minister knows there is no responsibility for National policy. The first part of the question is acceptable. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. It does not really matter too much whether the Minister answers the question but I would ask you to consider whether there is ministerial responsibility by any Labour Minister for the National Party’s voting record because that was the first part of the question. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Thank you Mr Brownlee. If it is on a bill for which the Minister is responsible yes but he is not responsible for the party’s policy. But certainly if it relates to that yes the Minister is responsible. Would the Minister please reply briefly. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. This is not something this Minister is responsible for. This happened two Parliaments back. I would ask you again to consider whether any Minister in the current Government can be responsible for the National Party’s voting record on everything. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: No. 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: I am almost tempted to support the member because it would be very helpful of course from a Government perspective if one could ask questions relating only to the current Minister in any portfolio and not anything that might cover a previous Minister within at least the same Government. But I am sure that you are going to rule that that would be far too friendly a ruling from a Government perspective and should be rejected. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I will rule on it. If there is a bill before the House for which the Minister was responsible then the Minister can address that question that relates to matters relating to it including the voting on it. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I just want to be helpful to you. This in fact was a member’s bill. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I thank the member for that as well but it does not alter the facts. 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I am sad to report that many National Party members voted against this legislation and if I could quote one particular member he said: “We will be in an extraordinarily grubby country as a result of this stupid legislation.” I am pleased to say that it is not true. In fact the vast majority of bars and workplaces are far cleaner as a result of this legislation. The person who made that claim was Gerry Brownlee.