Connell Brian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Connell Brian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:614;Page:10370] 
12.  
BRIAN CONNELL (National—Rakaia) 
 to the  
Minister for Industry and Regional Development 
: Does he stand by his statement made in reaction to Wayne Coffey’s criticisms of the Government’s forestry policies in which he said “Well I want to know from the industry because if that’s right … we’ll stop doing what we’re doing.”; if so can the forestry industry interpret this as a policy statement? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON (Minister for Industry and Regional Development) 
: 
 Yes I do and no it cannot. I made that statement after listening to Mr Wayne Coffey say on Radio New Zealand that the coalition Government views the forestry industry as “some sort of necessary evil” and that the Government was hostile to business and anti-business. On the contrary tomorrow in Rotorua I open a multimillion-dollar wood-processing centre of excellence. Thirty million dollars is being invested as I speak in roading in the north and on the East Coast of the North Island in heavily forested areas and millions of dollars are being spent on skill training market development and industry capability building. If all of that is evil and hostile to the industry in the considered view of industry members then of course the Government will stop doing it. 
Brian Connell 
: Given the Minister’s comments what will this Government’s response be when dealing with the growing number of foresters who publicly label its polices as inadequate—or will it try to bully them into submission also? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: I noticed in the  
New Zealand Herald 
 this morning an article stating: “The New Zealand Forest Industries Council is distancing itself from criticism of the Government by the Timber Industry Federation chief Wayne Coffey ... Council chief executive officer Stephen Jacobi said that Coffey’s comments were profoundly unhelpful. The industry was working with the Government in the Wood Processing Strategy and a separate Forestry Industry Framework Agreement. ‘Obviously the industry would be better served by a forum that had everyone involved’ Jacobi said. He denied that the council was dominated by Carter Holt Harvey saying it had 18 core members.” The forestry industry and everyone that I know apart from Mr Coffey in the wood industry is supportive of what is going on and they are all invited to a meeting in my room before Christmas. If they think we are doing a good job we will continue doing it. If they do not then we will stop doing it and the Minister of Finance will have a lot of other things to do with the money we are spending now. 
Hon Matt Robson 
: What assistance has the Labour-Progressive Government provided for the forestry sector? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: I have already outlined some of the detail of the coalition Government’s constructive assistance to the wood industry. The wood-processing task force was the first time that any Government had taken such a comprehensive and representative industry grouping and brought its members together to address industry-wide concerns. The coalition Government maintains an ongoing dialogue with the wood industry sector and that engagement informs the policies and programmes we adopt to assist in its transformation. To give just one example we have invested $400000 in trade access work which has resulted in China recognising pine for construction purposes. We have also provided additional funding for wood-quality research initiatives which is a principal public and private initiative. 
Sue Bradford 
: Does the Minister believe that the Ministry of Economic Development has a role in assisting employees and contractors who have lost jobs and businesses in the current forestry downturn in the East Coast – Bay of Plenty; if so what is the ministry doing for those people? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: The Government’s response to issues like employment is a whole-of-Government response and the whole-of-Government response of this coalition Government is that we have the lowest level of unemployment in nearly 20 years. 
H V Ross Robertson 
: Has the Minister seen any reports from the forestry industry on the coalition Government’s policies as they affect the forestry sector and what they indicated? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: Yes and I think I have reported to the House on that. As I indicated I have regular meetings with the forestry industry along with my colleagues Jim Sutton and Pete Hodgson. Another meeting will be held before Christmas. Everyone in the industry interested in coming to my office knows that the door is open and that includes Mr Wayne Coffey. 
Gerrard Eckhoff 
: Given the Minister’s undertaking to stop doing what he is doing to the timber industry will he also give an undertaking to stop what he is doing to all other industry sectors such as the yacht-building industry? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: The Government works in cooperation with industry and my comment was that if the industry at large wanted the Government to stop doing what it is doing then of course we would. I doubt whether that will be the case. But I did notice that in comparison the ACT party suggests that we should have the exchange rate at the equivalent of the US$1 now. At 64c to the US$1 it may be difficult for some exporters. At 100c to the US$1 it would be virtually impossible for many of them. 
Brian Connell 
: Why does the Minister not acknowledge what many in the forestry industry are saying: that they are sick and tired of empty rhetoric and what they actually want him to do is to reduce costs and fix things like the Resource Management Act? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: I know that during the wood-processing task force issues like the Resource Management Act were addressed by a subcommittee of that task force and by the Government and issues are still being addressed. But I do not know of a time when the wood industry collectively and individually has been so supportive of Government actions as it is now. I would remind the member that during the whole time that the party he is now in Opposition with was in Government it did nothing whatever for the wood industry. That is on record and everyone knows it. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. There was an unparliamentary comment made by the Hon Nick Smith who is clearly having a bit of a problem today. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I heard an unparliamentary comment. If the member made that comment he is to withdraw and apologise for it. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: I withdraw and apologise. I seek the leave of the House to table the wide range of very positive initiatives that National took for the forestry sector right through the 1990s in contradiction of what the Minister claimed. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Brian Connell 
: Having threatened to withdraw Government support from the forestry industry unless it pulls its forelock would the Minister be concerned to find out that many in the industry are hoping that that is a promise? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: I made it clear in my statement I gave to the House that this is a consultative Government. If the industry wants the initiatives that this Government has taken is taking and will take to be ended then it has a chance to say so. I expect all who have been invited—and that is everyone—to come along and have their say. If that is what they wish I will readily report that to my colleagues and to the House. 
Ron Mark 
: I seek the leave of the House to table evidence that shows that when New Zealand First came to Government in 1996 the exchange rate was sitting at 69c to the US$1 and how under the careful stewardship of Winston Peters as Treasurer it was driven down to the 50c mark. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that evidence. Is there any objection? There is objection.