Brash Don: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Brash Don: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:606;Page:4061] 
2.  
Dr DON BRASH (NZ National) 
 to the  
Minister for Economic Development 
: Why did he make a speech in June 2002 stating that “This government has set itself an ambitious target. It wants to see New Zealand once more in the top half of the OECD league table of average real incomes by 2011.” given that the Prime Minister has stated that the timeframe is “totally unrealistic”? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House) 
 on behalf of the 
 Minister for Economic Development 
: I enthusiastically reply on behalf of the Minister: “I am sure the Minister will agree. I am known as a very positive person who is ambitious for New Zealand. This is reflected in many of my speeches.” 
Dr Don Brash 
: In the light of the fact that Treasury provided advice to the Government in April 2001 that: “It appears more likely that New Zealand’s ranking among OECD countries will continue to fall and unless there is some improvement in our growth rates relative to other OECD countries we could be among the lowest income group in the future.” why did he publicly state 14 months after that advice had been received that the Government had a goal of getting back into the top half of the OECD by 2011? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: Between those two events the former Governor of the Reserve Bank resigned and perhaps in an excess of enthusiasm the Minister for Economic Development believed that the growth rate would shoot through the roof as a consequence of that move. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I do not expect you to rule now but on behalf of the National Opposition I ask you to take a close look at the  
Hansard 
 of Dr Cullen’s reply. Perhaps when we return after the adjournment you will give us a ruling as to whether you think it complied fully with the part of the Standing Orders that deals with Ministers’ answers to questions. I would suggest that there was a great deal of personal reflection in that answer and it should not have been allowed. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member has made a reasonable request and I will comply with it. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Has he had an opportunity to discuss with the Prime Minister the incongruity of the two positions taken by the Minister of Finance and her as Prime Minister or is it the case that she is incapable of being wrestled away from Tom Cruise and photo opportunities? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: I am sure that the member would not turn down the chance of a photo opportunity with Penelope Cruz or Nicole Kidman given the chance. I repeat the advice given by both the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister that further Treasury analysis on a target date of 10 years out seems unrealistic given the growth rates that will be required. 
Hon Matt Robson 
: What goals does the Government have for New Zealand? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: Certainly if we can continue to reduce unemployment continue to outperform the OECD as we are doing continue to have low inflation and continue to have very high Budget surpluses we are on the road to getting back into the top half of the OECD. That is an ambition that contrasts favourably to the unrealistic one of restoring the National Party as a dominant political force over the next 10 years as Mr English wants. 
Deborah Coddington 
: Does the Minister still stand by his media release of 9 September 1999 whereby he said that Alan Greenspan the Chairman of the US Federal Reserve had seen the US economy power ahead with record sustained growth and that he should replace Dr Don Brash; if he does stand by that press release will he proceed with his intention stated in the same release to offer Greenspan a libertarian a job running monetary policy in New Zealand? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: The Minister does not see the need any longer to replace Dr Don Brash as the Governor of the Reserve Bank. 
Dr Don Brash 
: Did the Minister make his statement after reading the Government growth strategy of February 2002—at a time that I was still Governor of the Reserve Bank—which contained this chart outlining the Government’s growth targets that indicates that the Government hoped New Zealand would reach the top half of the OECD by 2011; if not on what basis did he make the statement? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: On the basis of ambition and optimism. As explained previously that graph was imported from another document and was never seen by Ministers before the document was produced.