Smith Lockwood: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Smith Lockwood: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:613;Page:9799] 
11.  
Dr the Hon LOCKWOOD SMITH (National—Rodney) 
 to the  
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade 
: Does he stand by his statements made in the House on 4 November 2003 in answer to question No. 7 and by his press statement made on that same day? 
Hon PHIL GOFF (Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade) 
: 
 Absolutely although I note that the date quoted in the press statement for the high commissioner’s speech was the date on which it was published rather than when it was delivered. By contrast the member’s own press statement of 4 November wilfully misrepresents New Zealand’s position and contribution in respect of our deployment to the Solomon Islands. He should be ashamed of it. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: Why did he state publicly on 4 November in relation to the deployment of infantry to the Solomons: “The company was requested in mid-August.” and why did he tell this House: “When it was needed and requested it was sent immediately.” when Cabinet papers reveal and defence officials confirmed at the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee this morning that the Australian Government formally requested New Zealand to deploy an infantry company in July not on stand-by but alongside an Australian infantry company in the Solomons—a request his Government declined at the time? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: The member is absolutely wrong. We did not decline the request. When I provide that member with all the Cabinet papers that show clearly and transparently the nature of the decisions made by this Government and he then misrepresents the position he has something to answer for. There was a general request at the beginning. We sent Brigadier Clive Lilley to the Solomon Islands. Clive Lilley said there was no specific job to do. We therefore did not refuse the request; we said we had the company on stand-by until such time as it was needed. When it was formally requested by the Australian Chief of Defence Force Peter Cosgrove it was provided within 3 days on confirmation that there was a task to do. 
Luamanuvao Winnie Laban 
: In respect of New Zealand’s relationship with Australia what information does the Minister have on the Australian Government’s view of the importance of that relationship? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: Earlier this year Australia produced a white paper on foreign policy in which it stated that New Zealand is Australia’s most important ally in the South Pacific and an important partner beyond. Just last week in relation to the matter raised by Lockwood Smith Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said on the two countries’ most recent joint effort in the Solomon Islands—that is restoring life to normality there—that it could not have been achieved without the contribution made by New Zealand and the other Pacific countries. Therefore Lockwood Smith saying that we did not make a sufficient contribution hardly stacks up. We made a major important and successful contribution. 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: Could the Minister answer the question without the bluster: did he deploy a New Zealand company to stand alongside the Australian company when first requested—yes or no? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: As set out in Cabinet papers the company was placed on stand-by until a task could be identified. As soon as a task was identified the company was deployed. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: If what the Minister has told this Parliament is the truth why does the Cabinet paper say— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The question could perhaps be a little more felicitously stated. Could the member please have another go. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: If the Minister has told this House the facts why does he not come clean on the fact that the Cabinet paper says in respect of the request by the Australian Government in July for a New Zealand infantry company to stand alongside an Australian company—and a Fijian one by the same token—that the Government felt that the company would be involved in thankless tasks rather than the fact that it was not requested at all? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: All of the information is in the Cabinet paper which went on 14 July to Ministers with the power to act. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: Well read it. 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: I not only read it but helped to write it so I know what is in it. A general request was made. We responded immediately with about $6.8 million worth of military assistance including 105 service personnel. We said the company was on stand-by and it was on stand-by because Brigadier Clive Lilley told us clearly that there was not a task worth doing at that time. We said that as soon as a task became available we would meet a formal request—and we did. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: Is the Minister alleging that the head of the Ministry of Defence—the Secretary of Defence—did not tell the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee the truth this morning when he said that the Australian Government formally requested New Zealand to deploy an infantry company in the Solomons not on stand-by but alongside an Australian infantry company in July not August? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: I most certainly am not alleging that the Secretary of Defence is not telling the truth. Unlike that member he does not wilfully misrepresent the facts. I have told the member—and I will tell him for the third time today—that in response to the request as set out in the Cabinet paper I provided to him we provided 105 personnel and said that the infantry company was on stand-by if required. As soon as the evidence was provided that it was required it was provided. It cannot be clearer than that. The member has the paper; he can read it.