Shearer David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeShearer David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 03 July 2014. Volume:700;Page:19204. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]4.DAVID SHEARER (Labour—Mt Albert)to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Did he seek any information from MFAT officials on the case of the alleged assault with the intention to rape and waiver of diplomatic immunity by the Malaysian diplomat after his initial briefing on 10 May 2014 and before the case became public; if not why not?Hon TIM GROSER (Minister of Trade)on behalf of theMinister of Foreign Affairs: No. The Minister was briefed as to the circumstances of the arrest and the New Zealand request for a waiver of diplomatic immunity on 10 May. The Minister was not made aware the Malaysians had declined the request for the waiver until Friday 27 June.David Shearer: Given the incident included an alleged assault with the intent to rape against a New Zealand woman why did it not occur to him to follow up and simply ask what was being done?Hon TIM GROSER: Because there are two procedures in place that require professional attention: the police inquiry into the facts of the alleged crime followed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade protocol division’s handling of the quite complicated procedures around diplomatic immunity. It is a very bright line to cross when a politician starts to interfere in those processes.Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am just requiring a bit of silence to assist the member to ask his supplementary question.David Shearer: Does the Minister believe then that he is blame-free in his handling of the case and that it is the complete fault of his officials; if not what responsibility does he take as the Minister of Foreign Affairs?Hon TIM GROSER: The Minister has already stated publicly that he takes responsibility for the issue but I think all of this is rather missing the point. The No. 1 requirement is to ensure that the young woman has proper support around her which is being done by the police I am assured. Secondly now that the accused is coming back to New Zealand we have the very real possibility that this victim may now receive proper justice.David Shearer: Given that the Minister stated yesterday that “There was never any intention . . . to let this matter rest” at what date was he planning to do something when he had done precisely nothing for 7 weeks?Hon TIM GROSER: I could repeat exactly the same point that I made in the preceding answer. The issue was that the Minister had every right to expect that he would be kept informed of the matter. He had been so informed and had every right to expect that that was being enacted.David Shearer: Does the Minister think that the New Zealand woman who was involved in this case would agree with him as he said this morning that it was a good and proper process when his chief executive was completely unaware of it the ministry had given the Malaysian authorities completely contrary advice to what was intended and there had been no follow-up whatsoever from his office?Hon TIM GROSER: Well I am sure the first issue is that the young woman who is the victim of this alleged crime is now in a position to receive some restorative justice. The Minister had immediate discussions with his Malaysian counterpart when it became evident to his surprise that what he had been informed of may not have been the same understanding on the part of the Malaysian Foreign Minister.