Norman Russel: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeNorman Russel: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 19 September 2013. Volume:693;Page:13543. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]3.Dr RUSSEL NORMAN (Co-Leader—Green) to theMinister of Conservation: Does he stand by his statement “No I did not” when asked in this House whether he gave any indication to the Department of Conservation on the direction or content of its submission on the Tukituki Catchment Proposal?Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister of Conservation): Yes and I also note today the statement by Doris Johnston Deputy Director-General of Conservation confirming this.Dr Russel Norman: Was Deputy Director-General of the Department of Conservation Doris Johnston correct when she said in an email sent on Monday 29 July that he the Minister “is concerned” about the submission “and is likely to query whether we leave it all to the EPA to consider.”?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: When the deputy director-general says that the Minister might query—might query—an issue it simply says that the Minister has not yet come to a view and how could I come to a view? I suggest to the member it would not be right for a Minister to come to a view on an important issue when I had received two sentences. I asked for a full briefing which I received on the Wednesday.Dr Russel Norman: Did he or did he not express concern to the Department of Conservation about the draft 30-page submission when he talked to Doris Johnston as Doris Johnston says in her email of 29 July?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: I draw the member’s attention to the statement today put out by Doris Johnston deputy director-general which makes plain that at that meeting on the Monday I sought a full briefing and that was the responsible thing for a Minister to do on an important issue.Dr Russel Norman: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My question was about—Mr SPEAKER: Order! The question has been adequately addressed. The member has further supplementary questions if he wishes.Dr Russel Norman: I seek leave to table the email from Doris Johnston on 29 July where she says that the Minister is concerned and—Mr SPEAKER: Order! That is sufficient information. Leave is sought to table that particular email. Is there any objection to that course of action? No there is not. It can be so tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Dr Russel Norman: How can he stand by his statement in this House that he gave no indication to the Department of Conservation of his views about its submission when the email from Doris Johnston says very clearly that firstly he was concerned about the submission—that is the Minister was concerned—and secondly that the Minister was going to query whether it should be left up to the Environmental Protection Authority?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: My statement to the House on Tuesday was absolutely correct and that is having received only two sentences of advice about the issue that before I came to any view I wanted to see a comprehensive submission. I saw that comprehensive submission on Wednesday.Dr Russel Norman: Does he stand by his statement this morning and earlier in the week that he did not even know that the substantive submission existed until Tuesday this week and how is that compatible with the media statement he issued today in which he says he discussed the issues related to the substantive submission on 29 July?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Very easily. In early July a 34-page draft submission was prepared by the Department of Conservation. I did not know about that until this week. What occurred on Monday 29 July was that I was told the department was preparing a submission. I said: “Get me a copy of the final submission.” which I received which was quite different from the original draft.Dr Russel Norman: Does he know the difference between being aware that a submission exists and actually seeing a submission and so does he stand by his statement that he did not even know that the submission existed until Tuesday this week even though he said in his own press release that he discussed the issues about the submission on 29 July?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: On 29 July the department told me that it was finalising its submission to be made by that Friday. I said: “Before I make any view on it I want to see a copy.” I did on the Wednesday.Dr Russel Norman: Can the Minister explain how he can have a conversation with Department of Conservation officials on 29 July about their submission when he did not know that the submission even existed until this Tuesday?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: I was told by the department on the Monday that it is finalising a submission by the Friday. Just because it tells me that it is finalising a submission I will not necessarily know what drafts might exist in the bowels of my department.Andrew Williams: Will the Minister step down while an inquiry is held into this serious issue considering he has been caught with his pants down yet again—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member has every right to ask his supplementary question. It is helpful if he uses subtly different language of course.Andrew Williams: Thank you Mr Speaker. Can I start again? [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am going to invite the member to start again. I suggest to him that it would be helpful if he rephrased his question.Andrew Williams: I thought it was pretty good. Will the Minister step down while an inquiry is held into this serious issue considering he has once again been caught in a difficult situation just like he was over the ACC privacy breaches?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Might I say that is a member who should not be asking questions about taking the piss.Grant Robertson: Does he stand by his statement in the House on Tuesday: “I did not give the department an indication of what that submission would be.” in light of Doris Johnston’s statement that he expressed concern and said it could be left to the Environmental Protection Authority?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Absolutely and I draw attention to Doris Johnston’s statement today that confirms that what I said on Tuesday was correct.Dr Russel Norman: Is it not a simple fact that the Minister misled Parliament when he said he gave no indication to the Department of Conversation of his views about the submission when the leaked email from Doris Johnston shows that he gave very clear views about the submission that he had concerns about the submission and that he thought it should be all left to the Environmental Protection Authority?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Quite the contrary. All that Doris Johnston’s email says is that the Minister wants to see the final submission. I say again to the House that if I were to make a decision on an important issue like this on the basis of two sentences I would be negligent in my role as the Minister of Conservation.