English Bill: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
English Bill: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:631;Page:3416] 
2.  
Hon BILL ENGLISH (National—Clutha-Southland) 
 to the  
Minister of Communications 
: Did he or his office ask Vodafone to send him a letter of apology dated Tuesday 23 May; if so why? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister for Economic Development) 
 on behalf of the 
 Minister of Communications 
: The Minister is advised that following the raising of the issue in the House his office sought from officials a copy of the letter he was advised that Vodafone was drafting in November. On discovering a letter had not been sent Crown Law contacted Vodafone’s counsel. Vodafone finalised a letter originally drafted in November and sent it to officials. 
Hon Bill English 
: Can he confirm he is currently in the process of considering recommendations from the Telecommunications Commissioner and a commercial case from Vodafone regarding the regulation of mobile termination rates and that millions of dollars of revenue are at stake for Vodafone? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: It was made clear to Vodafone by Crown Law in November that that action was completely unrelated to any other matters that may come before the Minister including the mobile termination rate decision. Ministers on this side of the House unlike those who were in the National Government do act in a professional manner. 
Hon Bill English 
: Can the Minister explain to the House why he is trading political favours with a large multinational company given that he is responsible for regulating it and is he surprised that Vodafone came up with a grovelling letter when he is about to make a decision that could cost it millions of dollars? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: The Minister is not trading favours. 
Hon Bill English 
: How can it be seen in any other light than that when the Minister effectively requested from Vodafone a letter of apology regarding a court case he was involved in the day he had been attacked over it in Parliament and when at the same time he is considering the regulation of mobile termination rates which could cost Vodafone tens of millions of dollars? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Relatively easily. The Minister had understood that a letter had come. He asked for it when it was clear that the letter which he was told had been drafted in November had not arrived. Crown counsel asked for a copy of it. 
Hon Bill English 
: Can the Minister confirm that he has just given the House the completely misleading impression that he asked for a letter dated November when in fact the letter was dated 23 May—the day after submissions closed on his decision about mobile termination rates which could cost Vodafone tens of millions of dollars? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I am advised that that letter was drafted on or before 16 November 2005. 
Hon Bill English 
: Does the Minister agree that he now has no choice but to reject Vodafone’s commercial case and accept the tougher recommendations of the Telecommunications Commissioner because if he does not it will look as though he is returning a political favour done for him by Vodafone? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: No. The Minister understands how to make a decision professionally. 
Hon Bill English 
: What sort of banana republic is the Labour Government now running when a Minister responsible for a multimillion-dollar regulatory decision has coerced Vodafone into doing him a political favour Vodafone has done it and he has to make a decision within the next few weeks; what sort of banana republic is that? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: It is clear that times have changed since National members made statutory decisions. Members opposite know— 
Hon Bill English 
: Trading favours! 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Members opposite may trade with the Exclusive Brethren with Telecom and with others; this Government does not.