O'Connor Damien: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeO'Connor Damien: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 09 September 2015. Volume:708;Page:6437. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]12.Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR (Labour—West Coast - Tasman) to the Minister for Primary Industries: Does he think it’s in the best interest of primary industries for a controlling interest to be potentially taken by foreign investors in New Zealand’s largest meat processing company Silver Fern Farms?Hon NATHAN GUY (Minister for Primary Industries): As no official details on Silver Fern Farms’ capital-raising process have been released so far fuelling speculation would be unhelpful. However I agree with the Leader of the Opposition who said that the Silver Fern Farms capital structure is a matter for Silver Fern Farms shareholders to decide. Mr Little went on to say: “My position on foreign direct investment is that adding jobs adding investment and creating new value for New Zealand—that’s a good thing.” Ultimately Silver Fern Farms is owned by farmer shareholders and there are indeed farmers on the board. They are in the best position to influence the outcome of this process.Hon Damien O’Connor: Why did the Government refuse to assist the Meat Industry Excellence group which has a proposal to consolidate the meat industry that would benefit New Zealand and instead is allowing Silver Fern Farms to be controlled by foreign investors?Hon NATHAN GUY: I think there is some confusion in the Labour caucus because I do not think that Mr O’Connor has talked to Mr Little—they have different views. Can I go on to say that I have read the Meat Industry Excellence report; I think it has created some discussion. The Government does not feel that we should be stepping in the middle of that process. If the gains are the big as that report says then it is going to be up to the meat industry to drive those changes.Hon Damien O’Connor: Why has he not made good on John Key’s 2008 commitment to a $200 million suspensory loan to help with the consolidation of the meat industry saying: “I think everyone sees the need for change.”?Hon NATHAN GUY: This Government is investing a lot to assist the red meat sector to grow and flourish. We are investing over $150 million in the Primary Growth Partnership. Of course we went to the campaign 12 months ago with election promises that our farming and rural communities backed unlike the Labour Opposition which went there with a capital gains tax a tax on irrigation and also an enlarged emissions trading scheme process and that is why it had its worst result ever in the history of the Labour Party.Hon Damien O’Connor: I seek leave to table a 2008 meat industry report where Mr English said: “As long as it’s under $200 million I don’t mind.”Mr SPEAKER: What is the source of the report?Hon Damien O’Connor: It is a media report.Mr SPEAKER: Does the member have any further supplementary questions? I suggest he use them.Hon Damien O’Connor: Will he commit right now to ensure any foreign investment in Silver Fern Farms goes through the Overseas Investment Office; if not why not?Hon NATHAN GUY: There is an Overseas Investment Office process for foreign investment if it does indeed meet that threshold. The member is obviously very confused. Yesterday he was on the Farming Show radio programme saying that the board of Silver Fern Farms should be sacked. I think that is terrible when at the moment all we have is speculation that the member is indeed fuelling along.Hon Damien O’Connor: Has he or his officials or his ministerial colleagues had any involvement in the potential sale of the shareholding in Silver Fern Farms to Chinese company Bright Food?Hon NATHAN GUY: I have had no involvement in this process. This process is being run by the board. It is going to be up to the board and it is going to be up to the farmer shareholders to decide on the direction of Silver Fern Farms.Hon Damien O’Connor: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That was a very simple question about whether he or his officials or his ministerial colleagues have had any involvement.Mr SPEAKER: It was a supplementary question and the Minister addressed one part of it saying that he has had no contact. That has addressed the question.Hon Damien O’Connor: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: I hope the member is not attempting to—Hon Damien O’Connor: No no I am just seeking clarification—Mr SPEAKER: No the member does not need to do that.Hon Damien O’Connor: Can I ask the Minister who is responsible for his officials whether he can inform the House whether to his knowledge they—Mr SPEAKER: Order! That is not a point of order; that is effectively another supplementary question. If he wants to—[Interruption] Order! The member will resume his seat. I have just ruled for the benefit of the member that the question was addressed satisfactorily. If the member then wants to make a more—[Interruption] Order! If the member then wants to ask a further supplementary question that is more specific and he has got supplementary questions left I suggest he does so.Hon Damien O’Connor: Have the Minister’s officials had any direct involvement in the sale of Silver Fern Farms to Chinese company Bright Food?Hon NATHAN GUY: At the moment the member is just speculating on something. As far as the involvement that I have had I have already indicated that I have had no involvement in this process. As far as I am aware my officials have had no involvement in this process. This process is being run by the board of Silver Fern Farms. Ultimately it will be up to the shareholders who are farmers to decide.Hon Damien O’Connor: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It is a repeat and I tried to keep the question very narrow. It was one relating to just his officials and I did not hear an answer.Mr SPEAKER: The member did get an answer. The trouble is that his own colleagues were making so much noise that he may not have heard it but the Minister effectively said:“To my knowledge my officials have not had any contact.” That was included in the answer. I accept that it was hard to hear but it was not helped by the level of interjection coming from people who regularly yell out: “Answer the question. Answer the question.” That is not helpful when the Minister is attempting to Dr David Clark.Hon Damien O’Connor: Supplementary question Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: No the member has used all his supplementary questions.