Little Andrew: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLittle Andrew: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 17 February 2015. Volume:703;Page:1590. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]2.ANDREW LITTLE (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does he have confidence in Hon Steven Joyce given his statement that SkyCity reducing the size of the convention centre by “around 10 percent would not cause the Crown too much concern”?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister): Yes I do. Steven Joyce did not want to put extra money last week into the convention centre but it looks like Andrew Little did on the radio.Andrew Little: Given the deal lays out precisely detailed gambling concessions in return for a 3500-seat convention centre if the convention centre is smaller will Skycity’s concessions also be reduced?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: No I think what the deal does is lay out for a $402 million spend and what we can see from Skycity is that it will be spending at least $402 million and probably more.Andrew Little: What has Skycity given in return for being allowed to build a smaller convention centre or is this just a gift from us to it?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: To start off the plans have not actually been approved by the Government but what the Government has done is acknowledge that some of the points that Skycity makes are fair. There has actually been an escalation in some of the costs but overall Skycity has a very strong interest in building a world-class convention centre despite actually what the member says which is that no one is interested in coming to New Zealand which is an interesting position to take if you one day want to be the Prime Minister. I am pretty confident they actually will.Andrew Little: Can he confirm that under the deal he has negotiated on our behalf New Zealand taxpayers could now get a smaller convention centre for the same regulatory cost as before?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: The final convention centre actually has to be agreed by the Government and that is for the purpose of it coming back. What the Government has done is given Skycity the changes in its legislation that account for about $402 million of benefit in return for at least $402 million being spent. That is the salient point.Andrew Little: Will he bring this new downgraded deal back to Parliament given this House approved extra pokies and other concessions in exchange for a 3500-seat convention centre not a smaller one?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I think the member needs to see what Parliament agreed to which was a $402 million convention centre. I would say also that Skycity started with a plan at 33000 square metres and moved it up to 38000 square metres so let us see how it finally goes. But last week from what I could see the member seemed in favour of a free convention centre—actually in favour of putting in a few more million of taxpayers’ money—and after all of that thought that nobody wants to come to New Zealand. Interesting response.Andrew Little: Which 10 percent of the convention centre is actually going to be cut: is it the roof one of the walls the windows—what is going?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Well I am absolutely confident that Skycity will build a world-class convention centre where many people will come and be part of world-class conventions there. But here is an interesting point. Labour members will be able to kick the tyres on this when they go and visit the Skycity box for their rugby and entertainment because we know that they are going to sneak behind the bike sheds—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! I do not think that answer will help the order of the House.Andrew Little: Why did he go around the country promising a free 3500-seat convention centre when now he cannot deliver it?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: What I did do was go around the country and promise that there would be a world-class convention centre provided without taxpayer support and guess what! That is happening. What I did not do was go on the radio last week and say: “Yeah we could toss them a few million.” What I did not do was go on the radio last week and say: “No one wants to come to New Zealand.” It is going to be a good deal for New Zealand. A world-class convention centre no taxpayer funds—deal done by the National Government.