King Annette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
King Annette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:663;Page:11596] 
1. 
Hon ANNETTE KING (Deputy Leader—Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Finance 
: Will the Government tell New Zealanders before the election which assets if any they will sell if they are re-elected? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance) 
: 
 The Government has made a firm commitment to New Zealanders that there will be no asset sales in this term of office and that if the policy changes we will say so and campaign on the issue in the 2011 election. 
Hon Annette King 
: In light of that answer has the policy changed since yesterday when the Prime Minister said a decision on whether to sell Kiwibank would be made in the second term if National were re-elected rather than telling New Zealanders before they go to the polls what assets were on the block? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: No the policy has not changed. We made a firm commitment that if there are any policy changes we will say so before the election and we will put it to the electorate in 2011. 
Hon Annette King 
: Is Government policy regarding the sale of Kiwibank that it will not be sold that there is no rational reason for selling it and that there are no circumstances under which it will be sold as stated by John Key and does that represent a change of policy? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: No it does not. 
Chris Tremain 
: What is the Government’s priority for managing the $220 billion of assets it holds on behalf of taxpayers? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: Our priority is to fix the damage done by the previous Government’s very poor management of the $200 billion worth of assets. The taxpayer owns $59 billion worth of financial assets $52 billion worth of companies and $109 billion worth of housing schools hospitals prisons and roads. It is a top priority for this Government to manage that $200 billion worth of assets better. I have to say that we have been able to make a lot of progress because such a poor job was done by the previous Government. 
Hon Annette King 
: Is it Government policy to sell Kiwibank eventually as he said on 1 August 2008 before the election or is the policy to never sell Kiwibank ever as stated by John Key on at least nine occasions including May 2007 5 6 and 7 August 2008 21 and 22 October 2008 and 4 and 5 November 2008? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: The Prime Minister has strong views on these things and I tend to agree with them. 
Hon Annette King 
: Did he agree with John Key when he refused to sign a pledge not to sell Kiwibank and then agree with him when he changed his mind and promised never ever to sell Kiwibank and is he aware that while John Key was sending mixed messages Ministers like Nathan Guy were busy signing the pledge on behalf of his party? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: As I outlined in answer to an earlier question the Government has made a commitment to New Zealand that there will be no asset sales in this term of office and that if the policy changes we will say so. As I have pointed out to the member we have spent our time on a much more important task which is fixing—[ 
Interruption 
] I think that demonstrates the point that the last Government did nothing to manage $200 billion of assets properly in the interests of the taxpayer and that is what we are doing with considerable success. 
Hon Annette King 
: Was his decision to raise the sale of Kiwibank a day after his Budget an attempt to foster debate about an asset sale or an attempt to foment trouble with his leader? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: In the context of a Budget that has gone down pretty well because it is good for the economy and good for families I was answering a question asked by the audience. 
Hon Annette King 
: I seek leave to table a pledge signed by Nathan Guy pledging that his party will not initiate or support the sale of Kiwibank. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Hon Annette King 
: I seek leave to table a copy of a pledge signed by all party leaders except John Key who has now said that he would never ever sell Kiwibank anyway. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Hon Annette King 
: I seek leave to correct a comment I made when I tabled the pledge. I said it was signed by— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought. I presume it is to make a personal explanation. Leave is sought to make a personal explanation. [ 
Interruption 
] I have to put the leave to the House. Is there any objection to leave being given? There is no objection. 
Hon Annette King 
: When I tabled the pledge I said it was signed by all party leaders. It was not signed by the leader of the ACT Party. I said it was signed by all leaders of the parties. I apologise to the leader of the ACT Party; he has always stuck with what he believes in.