Parker David: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeParker David: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 05 November 2015. Volume:709;Page:7748. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]11.Hon DAVID PARKER (Labour) to the Minister of Trade: What steps if any has his Government taken to renegotiate the provisions in the South Korean FTA to ensure New Zealand can ban overseas buyers of our homes since he received the select committee report on the South Korean FTA recommending that this be clarified noting as the select committee report did that the Australian FTA with South Korea does allow Australia to ban overseas buyers of Australian homes?Hon TIM GROSER (Minister of Trade): We have taken no steps to renegotiate a trade agreement that we think confers substantial net benefits on New Zealand particularly not to implement a policy of outright banning of sales of homes with which we do not agree.Hon David Parker: I seek leave to table the page from the South Korea - Australia free-trade agreement where Australia is reserved the right—Mr SPEAKER: Order! I will put the leave. Leave is sought to table that particular page of the South Korea - Australia free-trade agreement. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Hon David Parker: Why was the right of the Government to ban foreign buyers of New Zealand homes given away in the South Korean free-trade agreement when the Australians have that right under its free-trade agreement with South Korea?Hon TIM GROSER: It was not a question of giving anything away; it was a question of not wishing to implement a policy we do not think is central to New Zealand’s interests. It is a policy stance that has informed a series of free-trade agreements that have commanded wide support over the years from the Labour Party.Hon David Parker: Under the free-trade agreement with South Korea has South Korea reserved for itself the right to adopt a ban on New Zealand people—not being corporates—buying South Korean residential land or homes?Hon TIM GROSER: I would have to seek advice on that.Hon David Parker: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. This is a question on notice—Mr SPEAKER: Order! No it was not. It was a supplementary question. The question on notice was answered. [Interruption] Order! If the member has further supplementary questions he is entitled to ask them.Hon David Parker: Point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: If it is a matter of whether the Minister should have had an answer more acceptable to the member that is not a point of order; that is creating disorder. Has the member got further supplementary questions?Hon David Parker: Is the Minister so incompetent—Mr SPEAKER: Order! That question is out of order.Hon David Parker: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It is not unreasonable for the Opposition to expect the Minister responsible for the free-trade agreement—Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member is coming very close to being asked to leave. He is creating disorder in this House.Hon David Parker: Does the Minister believe that a competent Minister of Trade would know whether the South Koreans have reserved for themselves the right to ban New Zealand “real people” purchasers of residential land?Hon TIM GROSER: I think a competent New Zealand trade Minister would be focusing on New Zealand’s real interests instead of phoney solutions to Labour’s problems with the Auckland housing market.Hon David Parker: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I have a number of overdue questions—Mr SPEAKER: Order! I will look into it. If there is a matter of late answers to written questions I will look into the matter as I said I would for another member earlier. I will be annoyed if there has not been some communication between the member and the Minister’s office and I will certainly be equally annoyed if the delay is a matter of a day or so but I will look into the matter.Hon David Parker: To assist—Mr SPEAKER: No I do not need further assistance. I have said I would look into the matter. [Interruption] Order! The member is going very close to being asked to leave the Chamber.