Little Andrew: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLittle Andrew: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 24 June 2015. Volume:706;Page:4693. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]1.ANDREW LITTLE (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement in question time yesterday he would “absolutely” retain confidence in a Minister who authorised a multi-million dollar payment to a disaffected businessman to unlock a free-trade deal?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister): I stand by my statement in response to that question yesterday by the member but I would note the question does not accurately reflect the actions of Mr McCully in relation to the Saudi sheep issue.Andrew Little: Why does he think that it is appropriate for his Government to use $4 million of taxpayers’ money to grease the palm of one foreign businessman?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Again I think the member presents the issueinaccurately which was a payment made for contract for services.Andrew Little: What service was given by the businessman in question in exchange for $4 million?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I do not have it all in detail but it is laid out in the Cabinet paper.Andrew Little: Given his answers yesterday that he did not know whether Murray McCully invited Mr Al Khalaf to sue New Zealand as stated in the 2011 letter from Brownrigg Agriculture has he now had time to check these serious documented allegations against his Minister and what assurances can he provide the House today?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Mr McCully has informed me that he has made no such comment. I do not believe that any Minister has told a party to sue the Government. What Ministers do say from time to time—and I have actually said myself—is that people are free to test their legal rights in court. There is quite a big difference.Tim Macindoe: Has the Prime Minister seen any reports on the issue that Minister McCully was seeking to resolve with Saudi Arabia?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I have. I have seen reports that indicate that trade Minister Phil Goff travelled to Riyadh in 2006 and told the Saudis that live sheep exports for slaughter would resume. I am also seeing reports that suggest that the Labour Government acted in bad faith towards the Saudis by deliberately—deliberately—not telling them that it was changing its position and banning exports. What is clear is that the Labour Government created this problem and Minister McCully is now resolving it.James Shaw: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. If I can get clarification: yesterday I believe you pointed out a ruling that Ministers were not allowed to use a patsy question or a supplementary question to attack Opposition parties.Tim Macindoe: I reject absolutely the assertion in that member’s question. I was seeking—Mr SPEAKER: Order! That is not going to be helpful. I certainly did use a ruling yesterday—197/6—and I would encourage members to have a look at it. If I detect that a question is lined up simply as a means of attacking another party—[Interruption] Order! To the Hon Annette King:I am on my feet. Therefore if I detect a question is for that purpose alone—in this particular case I have got to judge quite a significant difference of opinion clearly between National and the Labour Opposition in regard to the history of this matter. The questions have been asked and have been flowing across the House now for a considerable length of time. I do not believe that that question was designed simply to attack the Labour Party. I think it is a position that the Government has continued to advance—that the problem was one that was created earlier. It is for members to decide or determine how accurate those statements are.Hon David Parker: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Prime Minister appeared to be quoting from an official document. I ask that he table it.Mr SPEAKER: That is easily sorted. If the Prime Minister was quoting—the Prime Minister is indicating that he was not so that is the end of that matter.Andrew Little: What advice did he and/or his Cabinet receive about the cause—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! Can I just ask that the question be started again?Andrew Little: What advice did he and/or his Cabinet receive about the cause of action underlying Mr Al Khalaf’s claim against the New Zealand Government?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I do not have that information with me.Andrew Little: What was his Government doing sending sheep halfway round the world to die in the desert?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Well I refute the proposition in that question.Tim Macindoe: Has the Prime Minister seen any reports about warnings that were given to the Government in regard to the Saudi sheep issue?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I have. I have seen reports that show that the Government’s actions in relation to the Saudi sheep issue carried legal commercial and diplomatic risks. These risks were outlined in Cabinet papers—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! I am not going to put up with that form of interjection from that member. If it happens again she will be leaving the Chamber. I am sorry to interrupt the Prime Minister. I invite him again to complete his answer.Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I will start again. I have seen reports that show that the Government’s actions in relation to the Saudi sheep issue carried legal commercial and diplomatic risks. These risks were outlined in Cabinet papers which also show that the Labour Government gave full assurances to the Saudis and then went back on its word.Chris Hipkins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. In his answer the Prime Minister quoted from Cabinet papers. I request that he table them.Mr SPEAKER: If the Prime Minister quoted from an official document then he must table it. [Interruption] Order! Whether he quoted from a Cabinet paper is not the issue. As to whether he was utilising an official paper the Prime Minister shook his head and said he was not.Chris Hipkins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I would like you to consider perhaps later and in more detail that when the Prime Minister outlines the contents of a document whether or not he uses the exact words he is clearly referring to an official document and therefore he is required to table it.Mr SPEAKER: I will give the matter further consideration but at this stage my ruling stands. The Prime Minister said that he was not quoting from an official document and he cannot be required to table it.Andrew Little: Does he consider that a farm in a desert where 75 percent of lambs die has demonstrated New Zealand’s reputation as a leader in global agriculture?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I do not think that is a proven fact in terms of the proposition the member is making but I do think that the opportunity that the agribusiness hub creates is a good opportunity actually to showcase for those 30 companies the technology that New Zealand has.