Dunne Peter: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Dunne Peter: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:624;Page:19427] 
1. Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Is she satisfied that her Government has fulfilled the goal of the confidence and supply agreement with United Future to provide “stable Government over the next term of Parliament”; if so why? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister) 
: 
 The answer is yes because today the Government celebrates 965 days since the signing of the confidence and supply agreement with United Future. That represents the longest period of stable Government under MMP. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: Does the Prime Minister recall that United Future has voted against her Government on 20 major pieces of legislation and with the National Party Opposition 65 percent of the time while still supporting her Government on matters of confidence and supply; if so what conclusions does she draw from that regarding the operation of our MMP system of Government? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I draw two main conclusions. The first is that National can never get the numbers together and the second is that it is possible to have disagreements while maintaining strong stable Government. I thank United Future for that. 
Gordon Copeland 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. You are some distance from this end of the House but during the question asked by my colleague Peter Dunne there was a considerable amount of noise and interjection. Since I have been in Parliament Speakers have ruled that questions should be heard in silence and I would like to see that upheld during this question. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I agree with the member. There will be silence in future when questions are asked. When questions are answered the odd interjection is understandable but barracking is not. Members are entitled to hear the questions and the answers. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Does the Prime Minister believe her Government has lived up to all its agreements in its confidence and supply arrangements with United Future including “improving the economic well-being of all New Zealanders” given the fact that disposable after-tax real household annual income has remained static over the last 5 years? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I certainly do. What an extraordinary statement that was for the member to make in the very week that most families currently receiving family support are getting another $25 a week for the first child and $15 a week for each subsequent child. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. That was an interesting response from the Prime Minister. It told the House that the best her Government can do for hard-working New Zealanders is to turn them into beneficiaries but it in no way answered the question. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: The question was addressed. 
Peter Brown 
: Does the Prime Minister recognise that the United Future party has sacrificed its beliefs on prostitution law reform GST on rates smoke-free legislation and tax cuts and that the Government even watered down the definition of a family in the Families Commission Bill; if she does recognise that does she not think the very least that she owes the party is the knowledge of exactly when the election will occur and will she confirm it will occur in late September? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I know that United Future has adhered to its conscience on the conscience issues and to its party policy on the other issues and all those things. I think that what has been distinctive about the arrangements in this particular term of Government is that United Future has found a way of working with our Government that protects its brand differentiation. That stands in marked contrast to the National Party choosing to collapse a coalition because it wanted to privatise Wellington International Airport shares. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. If a Minister is to give an answer consistent with the public good the Prime Minister should surely have recognised in that answer that it was she and her management that caused the collapse of the last coalition Government when the Alliance was blitzed in much the same manner as will happen to United Future beyond the next election. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: That is probably a point of information rather than a point of order. 
Rodney Hide 
: Can the Prime Minister confirm that despite the United Party’s vehement opposition the Civil Union Act was passed the Prostitution Reform Act was passed and in fact the entire 20 pieces of legislation that the United Future party members opposed because of their consciences were passed and that the United Future party would make a good doormat for any political party in Government in this country? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I can confirm that those pieces of legislation passed because members of Parliament from parties that very seldom support the Labour Government did on a conscience basis support those measures. And as one who did support them I thank those members of ACT who did support them. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: Does the Prime Minister agree with the assessment of the OECD that political stability has contributed to economic growth in New Zealand; if so does she think she had other options available when forming a Government in 2002 to achieve or improve on current economic growth levels? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I do agree with the OECD that political stability is very important in getting sustained and good economic performance as this Government has got. I am very happy with the arrangement entered into after the last election. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I seek leave for Mr Dunne to have 10 more questions so he may outline one thing he has done in the last 3 years. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: That is not a point of order. Is leave seriously sought? I am sorry; the member cannot seek leave on somebody else’s behalf. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: What was the Prime Minister referring to when she said in 2002: “I do not believe that it is acceptable to New Zealanders to see small parties exercise the balance of power irresponsibly.” and have the concerns that led to those remarks been quelled during the term of this Parliament? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: When I made that comment it was in reaction to what I perceived as a threat to bring—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I know there is a temptation to interrupt and intervene. As I said the occasional comment is acceptable. But I cannot hear the answer and if in fact that barracking continues I will not be able to rule when someone says that the question has not been answered. Can we please have silence. 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: In making that comment I was reacting to what I perceived as a threat to bring the Government down over a single issue. I note that a great success of this term of Government has been the relationship with United Future which has enabled us to disagree from time to time but still to have strong stable Government. 
Rod Donald 
: Can the Prime Minister confirm that during this term of Parliament more Government bills have been passed solely as a result of Green Party support rather than the support of any other party and that the passage of 16 pieces of legislation on issues such as occupational safety and health accident compensation climate change civil union and the Supreme Court have helped to fulfil the goals of the cooperation agreement between the Labour-Progressive Government and the Green Party? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: For the record I wish to confirm that the support of the Greens on many critical pieces of legislation has been part of achieving strong stable Government.