Jones Dail: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Jones Dail: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:614;Page:10658] 
4.  
DAIL JONES (NZ First) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Is she concerned that the Hon Tariana Turia is reported in the  
Dominion Post 
 today as telling colleagues that Maori members could exercise more influence from the sideline over the Government’s policy on the foreshore and seabed; if so what does she intend to do about it? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister) 
: 
 No. 
Dail Jones 
: Is she concerned that there is clear evidence that the Hon Tariana Turia and her supporters have rejected the Government’s policy on the foreshore and seabed announced on 23 June 2003 which was to introduce legislation to give clear expression to the Crown’s ownership of the foreshore and seabed; and is the policy now in the control of a minor Minister with the tail wagging the dog insofar as the leadership of the Labour Party is concerned? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I have seen no such evidence. 
Dr Don Brash 
: Does the Prime Minister accept that the doctrine of collective Cabinet responsibility must operate in this matter and will she assure the House that if Mrs Turia does not publicly support the Government’s position on the foreshore and seabed issue she will expect her resignation as a Minister? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: As Prime Minister I will determine what the bounds of manoeuvre for Ministers are. 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: Will the Prime Minister grant Minister Tariana Turia an exemption from the collective responsibility provisions of the  
Cabinet Office Manual 
; if so why and if not why not? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I have had no such request. 
Metiria Turei 
: Does the Prime Minister not agree that it is entirely appropriate and indeed their responsibility for Maori MPs to exercise influence on behalf of Maori and their constituents; is that not a fundamental part of the democratic process? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I certainly expect members including Ministers to work within the Government on behalf of their constituents and I say of Mrs Turia that she contributes a great deal to Government policy and is a full and constructive contributor. 
Dail Jones 
: Why has the Prime Minister been unable to introduce legislation since 23 June 2003 that will ensure that the Crown has legal title to the foreshore seabed and other parts of the environment where ownership could be disputed and at the same time protect Maori and all other New Zealanders’ traditional rights of use; is that because she is no longer able to lead all the members of the Labour Party caucus to a mutually peaceful resolution of a problem that she foisted upon New Zealand and New Zealanders on 23 June 2003? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: There were so many non sequiturs in that question that I do not know where to begin. The Government has been working earnestly with a great range of interests to get a solution to the problem that the Court of Appeal dumped on our doorstep. 
Dail Jones 
: Should the Prime Minister not also be concerned that the Hon Tariana Turia’s reported comment signifying the failure of the Prime Minister to resolve a problem created by herself and the Hon Margaret Wilson over the seabed and foreshore issue now has considerable similarities with problems experienced by Prime Minister Blair over the education tax and former Prime Minister Thatcher over the poll tax; and is it now clear that this is the beginning of the end of her Labour Government? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I see no parallel. 
Dr Don Brash 
: I seek leave to table a copy of the  
Cabinet Office Manual 
 so that the Prime Minister and all Ministers will understand the constraints imposed by that manual. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that manual. Is there any objection? There is.