12. Question No. 12—State Owned EnterprisesRt Hon DAVID CARTER (National) to the Associate Minister for State Owned EnterprisesQuestion No. 12—State Owned Enterprises12. Rt Hon DAVID CARTER (National) to the Associate Minister for State Owned Enterprises: On what date did Landcorp send its submission to the Tax Working Group and was it invited to do so by the Tax Working Group or one of its members?Hon SHANE JONES (Associate Minister for State Owned Enterprises): I'm advised Landcorp sent its submission to the Tax Working Group on 31 May 2018. I'm also advised it was not invited to do so. It responded to the Tax Working Group's public requests for submissions. Rt Hon David Carter: Did anyone in Government ask Landcorp to make this late submission to the Tax Working Group?Hon SHANE JONES: Mr Speaker with your forbearance I'm to going read out the answer. On 1 November the acting Pāmu financial controller the head of environment and Mr Peter Fraser attended an agri-sector stakeholder meeting hosted by Treasury to discuss environmental taxes feedback from the Tax Working Group.Rt Hon David Carter: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. SPEAKER: Yeah well no I can—I think the member might be able to express it better than I can but I know where he's heading.Rt Hon David Carter: Well my question hasn't been answered.SPEAKER: Maybe the member could repeat it just so it's clear.Rt Hon David Carter: Did anyone in the Government ask Landcorp to make a late submission to the Tax Working Group?Hon SHANE JONES: I have described a meeting which is publicly declared between arguably the most senior of the Government departments Treasury. At that meeting were members of the Landcorp team. At that meeting matters were discussed pertaining to environmental taxes for the Tax Working Group. I am not advised that a politician had invited them to do so.SPEAKER: And there's just one further thing so the question is answered and that was were they invited to make a late submission which is the essence of the question.Hon SHANE JONES: I stated that a meeting was hosted at which they attended. Within such meetings obviously there is to and fro of the content of environmental taxes. That is not to be construed and is not consistent with a direct invitation to do so.Rt Hon David Carter: When was the Minister first aware that the State-owned enterprise (SOE) for which he is responsible is advocating for a nitrogen tax a water tax and a capital gains tax?Hon SHANE JONES: I shall repeat what the Deputy Prime Minister said. Ours is in many respects a freedom Government. Along with a host of other Government entities this SOE made a submission. I was made aware of that submission when questioned about it by the media.Hon Nathan Guy: Why did Landcorp make a submission that was one month after the closing date supporting a nitrogen fertiliser tax and a water tax and not being opposed to a capital gains tax?Hon SHANE JONES: It may come as a surprise to the other side of the House but we observe our roles in a governance capacity and then we appoint a board and indeed we have appointed a fine New Zealander today Dr Warren Parker who without a doubt will address any governance challenges in that regard. We do not bully. We do not take for granted our responsibilities and we allow the operational decision-making and the board of governors to function in a unified fashion. They have made their submission. It is now a matter of public record but it is only one of a host of submissions.Rt Hon David Carter: Did the board of Landcorp sign off the submission to the Tax Working Group or did the chief executive Steve Carden act on his own volition?Hon SHANE JONES: That allegation about the CEO may have been the case under the regime on the other side of the House but I am advised that the executive discussed and I am advised that the board of directors were aware of the contribution that has been made.