Parker David: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeParker David: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 28 July 2015. Volume:707;Page:5335. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]11.Hon DAVID PARKER (Labour) to the Minister of Trade: Is the effect of Article 139 of the New Zealand - China free-trade agreement that it allows restrictions to be introduced on foreign buyers of New Zealand homes including Chinese buyers so long as subsequent agreements with other countries are no more generous?Hon TODD McCLAY (Acting Minister of Trade): Mr Speaker kia ora and tēnā koe. The most favoured nation obligation of the New Zealand - China free-trade agreement requires New Zealand to extend to Chinese investors any preferential treatment granted under subsequent New Zealand free-trade agreements and this is a reciprocal clause. I am advised that China is currently negotiating with the US and the EU on investment. Article 139 also means that New Zealand investors will receive any preferences made or extended under the most favoured nation clause of that agreement.Hon David Parker: Can he now confirm what he refused to answer last week—that is the Trans-Pacific Partnership will purport to stop a future New Zealand Government banning the sale of existing New Zealand homes to foreign buyers from Trans-Pacific Partnership countries?Hon TODD McCLAY: The Trans-Pacific Partnership is still under negotiation so there is no agreement yet. That is why it is still called a negotiation and not yet an agreement. Whether or not provisions in subsequent agreements allow restrictions on foreign buyers of New Zealand homes or whether they also prevent restrictions from Chinese buyers would depend upon the specific facts measures and the application of the provisions in any respective agreement.Hon David Parker: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. This Minister’s answers—last week and this week—are making a mockery of this Parliament and a fool of you Mr Speaker. I do not say you are foolish but it is making a fool of Parliament that he can turn up and make denials in this House or refuse to answer these questions. That the Minister of Trade on The Nation and then the Prime Minister on Q+A answers them is an affront to this House.Mr SPEAKER: On this occasion my duty here is to listen to the question and then I expect the Minister to address that question. The question asked whether he would confirm etc. and then went on to put the proposition the member wanted answered. At the very start of the Minister’s answers he effectively said “The negotiations are still under way.” and therefore he would not be able to confirm that. That is an answer. It may not be an answer that is satisfactory to the member but the way forward is further supplementary questions.Hon David Parker: Speaking to the point of order—Mr SPEAKER: No no. I have ruled on that point of order. If the member has a fresh point of order I will hear it but we are not about to relitigate points of order.Hon David Parker: Does he now concede that although China can and has banned sales to non-residents in its cities and Australia has too he is trading away New Zealand’s sovereign right to ban the sale of New Zealand homes to overseas buyers from Trans-Pacific Partnership countries and China?Hon TODD McCLAY: No I do not accept that. I suggest to the member that he goes and does a little bit more research about China. Nobody gets to buy land in China—not Chinese people not people from other countries. That is the first thing. The second thing I would say is I can give an absolute guarantee that under the Trans-Pacific Partnership this Government will not commit to something that compels the Government to produce a shonky list based on people’s names and what they think their ethnicity might be to create policy—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order!Hon David Parker: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. If you will not make the Minister answer a question could you at least stop him insulting the Opposition—Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have a very good mind to ask that member to leave the Chamber. The first thing is whether the question “Does he now concede …” was addressed. The Minister right at the start of the answer said that he does not agree with that. And then as soon as the Minister did wander to where he was going with the latter part of his answer before the member was even on his feet I stood—[Interruption] Order! I certainly do not expect backchat from the Hon David Parker when I am delivering a ruling. As soon as I saw where the Minister was going I rose to my feet and stopped him answering then turned to the member to see him on his feet.Hon David Parker: Are the hundreds of thousands if not millions of New Zealanders who want an assurance that his Government will protect New Zealand’s ability to stop the sale of New Zealand homes to foreign buyers reasonable or unreasonable in their expectations?Hon TODD McCLAY: What is unreasonable is this member’s position compared with some of his colleagues’ when it comes to trade. Recently Clayton Cosgrove said that he is a rabid free-trader Clare Curran and Mr Parker are just rabid and of course Mr Little is just angry on this issue.