Shearer David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeShearer David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 20 August 2013. Volume:692;Page:12577. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]6.DAVID SHEARER (Leader of the Opposition)to thePrime Minister: Does he have confidence in all his Ministers?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister):Yes.David Shearer: Did his Minister for Primary Industries brief him on the options for snapper management before he put them out for consultation?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: If the question is whether the Minister took it to Cabinet no he did not. He could have if he had wanted to but also it was OK that he did not.David Shearer: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The question really was about briefing him not taking it to Cabinet.Mr SPEAKER: Can the right honourable Prime Minister please address that part. It was not whether it went to Cabinet; it was whether the Prime Minister had been briefed.Rt Hon JOHN KEY: No I was not briefed about that particular point but what is true is that when I saw the initial discussion that took place in the media there was then a discussion that was actually prior to the point where they went out to consultation.David Shearer: Will he be attending any of the public meetings called by recreational fishers to specifically discuss the options for changing snapper quota?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: No I probably will not be attending any of the meetings but interestingly enough it is the issue that does get raised with me as I have said when I go around the country from one end to the other. The interesting thing at all those publicmeetings is that I have had a lot of feedback from New Zealanders because they constantly raise this issue.David Shearer: Has he or any of his Ministers spoken to Peter Goodfellow the National Party president about the snapper quota levels?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: No.David Shearer: Does he agree with the view that “What we want is a sustainable fishery. Secondly we’ve got to put the rights of New Zealanders to go out and catch fish as the top priority and then we look after the commercial catch after that. We don’t reverse that order. That has to be the order because that is our right as New Zealanders.”?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Yes but I am also aware of the fact that what has actually taken place in relation to significant natural area 1 which is the area that is in question is that after some scientific work done by the Ministry for Primary Industries there have been concerns about decreasing snapper fisheries in the Bay of Plenty area. As a result of that the decision was made to go and have a look at consultation. From the top of my head 7200 tonnes of fish are estimated to be caught in significant natural area 1 with 4600 of those tonnes being taken by commercial fishers. At the moment about 2600 tonnes are taken by recreational fishers but because recreational fishers are more in number and they are becoming more efficient at catching fish the estimates from the ministry is that they are possibly taking an extra 1000 tonnes on top of that. The process now is to go through to see whether there need to be changes to either the balance between commercial and recreational fishers the size of the fish or the bag limit to see whether it is possible to ensure that the fishery is sustainable. I think that is what all New Zealanders want. I realise that there is emotion around the issue but the Government is carefully feeling its way through so that it is not just us who can catch the fish but other people can.David Shearer: Does he think it is fair that a commercial fisher can catch a snapper as small as 25 centimetres but a recreational fisher has to go to 36 centimetres—like these fish—is that fair?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: In the weekend I took the liberty of reading John Armstrong’s column which was about his new chief of staff. If she is really advising him to come into Parliament—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption ] Order! Now would the Prime Minister address the question that was asked.Rt Hon JOHN KEY: That may or may not be fair. I seek leave for the member to table the 36-centimetre snapper—Mr SPEAKER: Order! That is not a point of order. Question No. 7 Alfred Ngaro. [Interruption ] Order! I have called Alfred Ngaro.