Turei Metiria: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Turei Metiria: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 14 June 2012. Volume:680;Page:2983. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
2. 
METIRIA TUREI (Co-Leader—Green) 
 to the  
Minister for Economic Development 
: Does he stand by his statement that he was “not at all concerned” about signing a deal with SkyCity for a convention centre before the Auditor-General’s inquiry into the deal is complete? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister for Economic Development) 
: 
 Yes I stand by my quote that I was not at all concerned about negotiations continuing firstly because there is no certainty that any deal will be concluded prior to the Auditor-General’s findings being released—and indeed as I have said a number of times previously there remains no guarantee that a deal will be concluded at all—and secondly because the signing of any deal is not the end of the matter. There would likely be legislation required to go through the House. So there is plenty of opportunity to continue to look at things on the way through and plenty of water to flow under the bridge. 
Metiria Turei 
: Does the Minister agree with the Prime Minister who today did another U-turn on a serious issue saying that he would now be pretty cautious about signing up to a deal while the Auditor-General’s inquiry is under way? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: Actually I am well aware that the Prime Minister said that he would be cautious and I looked back at my transcript yesterday and I saw that I was pretty cautious as well and pointed out that there was a whole bunch of things that would have to occur and we would just step our way quietly through it. I cannot quite see the distinction the member tries to make. 
Metiria Turei 
: How does the Prime Minister’s new cautious approach fit with the Minister’s comment yesterday—and I quote—“yes certainly we don’t see any reason to delay negotiations”; and does not his comment demonstrate contempt for the Office of the Auditor-General? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: In answer to the second part absolutely not at all. Again as I have said the Prime Minister has also said—as have I—that there is no reason for negotiations not to continue but we of course are taking a cautious approach on the way through it. 
Metiria Turei 
: What advice has the Minister received on the financial or legal impact on any deal signed with the casino should the Auditor-General find that the Government’s expressions of interest process is flawed? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: I have not sought or received any advice on that at this time but again I would point out to the member that just because the Auditor-General seeks to proceed with an inquiry as of course is his right to do so does not mean that actually anything is being done wrong. In fact I would quote to the member from the  
New Zealand Herald  
today where at least three of the other tenderers are quoted. One of them Ngati Whatua felt that calling for tenders again would be “a waste of taxpayers’ money” The Edge said that the company “felt the tender process had been robust at the time.” and ASB Showgrounds said that it had no concerns about the tender process and that “We’ve been involved in a lot of tenders. This one was done with the utmost efficiency.” 
Metiria Turei 
: Is the Minister concerned that the Auditor-General will inquire into the inadequacy of his assessment of the full costs of the casino deal including the costs of increased gambling and increased gambling harm in Auckland City? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: Not at all. I am very very confident in the process and confident in the way it has been handled by the ministry. 
Metiria Turei 
: Will the Minister take the responsible course demonstrate genuine respect for the Office of the Auditor-General and fiscal responsibility for the public of New Zealand and confirm that his Government will not proceed with the casino deal until the Auditor-General has completed her inquiry? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: I am happy to confirm that the Government sees no reason why the negotiations cannot continue in parallel. They have been going on for some time. I also confirm for the Greens that we of course have respect for the Office of the Auditor-General in this regard and also that the Government is very keen obviously to progress with a range of things. I appreciate that the Greens pretty much want all of them stopped but we are continuing to progress a number of initiatives to create jobs and growth for New Zealanders. 
Grant Robertson 
: Can the Minister tell the House that all those businesses that were approached or tendered under this process were given the same information and instructions about what was required in a tender document? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: I can confirm that the Ministry for Economic Development conducted a robust process. It conducted a number of expressions of interest. I do not know the exact detail the member refers to but I am confident that the ministry conducted a robust process that was fair to all parties. 
Metiria Turei 
: Does the Minister agree that a convention centre built under any other deal would also result in more jobs for Auckland which is a good thing but without the subsequent harm caused by increased gambling from this casino deal? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: Of course a convention centre creates opportunities for jobs. In fact there was a previous one done in Auckland with the support of the Green Party which was a confidence and supply partner of Labour at the time. It was a deal that was struck under the supervision of the Labour Government back in 2001 where an organisation called Skycity was given the opportunity to build a convention centre in return for increased poker machines at the time. In fact it was opened by then Minister Mark Burton and also was supported by the then Prime Minister Helen Clark who said proudly: “In Auckland Sky City has pumped $140 million into its new Convention Centre and Auckland City has rebranded and upgraded its convention facilities … Here in New Zealand it has been pleasing to see continuing investment in the quality of our tourism infrastructure.” [ 
Interruption 
]  
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! A point of order has been called—the Hon Trevor Mallard. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I think the Minister should be warned about his answer in that that negotiation was done by— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! The member will resume his seat immediately. The member will resume his seat. That is a direct abuse of the point of order process— 
Hon Member 
: Again! 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! And there will be no comment on my right either. I will not tolerate the point of order process being abused like that. When I get to my feet members will resume their seats. I will not tolerate that kind of abuse. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Was the Minister aware that the negotiation around that was done by the chair of the Casino Control Authority the well-known Tory Judith Collins? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: I appreciate that Mr Mallard is quite tribal but she of course was doing so under the Labour Government of the time. It was in fact signed off by the acting chair of the Casino Control Authority. The point is that the Prime Minister and the Labour Government welcomed the deal welcomed the investment and thought it was fantastic and once again what they will do in Government they say in Opposition they will not do—which just goes to show it is just politics they are playing.