Shearer David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeShearer David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 02 July 2013. Volume:691;Page:11547. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]1.DAVID SHEARER (Leader of the Opposition)to thePrime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements and have confidence in the statements of all his Ministers?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister):Yes I stand by all my statements and although I have confidence in all my Ministers I do not have specific knowledge of all of their statements or the context in which they were given over the last 4½ years of this Government.David Shearer: Does he agree with his Minister of Finance and Minister of Energy and Resources who both said that New Zealanders are not paying too much for their electricity?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Yes in the context in which they made those statements.David Shearer: Does he think that electricity prices are too high?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I certainly thought they had gone up way too much under a Labour Government. I often hear Labour members privately talking of the shame of when electricity prices went up 72 percent under a Labour Government.Hon Trevor Mallard: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Although the question sought an opinion it was a straight non-political question asking the Prime Minister his view on current electricity prices. It did not ask for a historical explanation.Mr SPEAKER: No I do not think that is correct on this occasion. The question was: “Does he think that electricity prices are too high?”. It was not qualified as to whether it was current prices or whether it was past prices.David Shearer: Does he think that current electricity prices today are too high?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: They are slightly less than the current OECD average. Some of the cost increases that occurred in the last 4½ years have been in relation to transmission increases. What I do know is that an emissions trading scheme that Labour and the Greens would put on the average consumer would add $500 per household a year. I know that Stalin-type nationalisation of power companies would be a disgrace.David Shearer: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That was a pretty straight question that did not need a political comment at the end.Mr SPEAKER: That is true. It was answered earlier. It did not need the latter part. Would the member now continue with his supplementary question.David Shearer: Does he think that New Zealanders are paying a fair price for their electricity today?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I think that they are paying a price that is cognisant and fair in relation to the environment we find ourselves in having to invest in infrastructure. As I say given that they have gone up half the amount they did under Labour what I mainlyfind is New Zealanders who are outraged at the way Labour ran the economy and who are disgusted with the economic management that this Government had to inherit.David Shearer: In light of his comment about Transpower and upgrades why has his Government insisted that Transpower pay $472 million in dividends over the last 2 years rather than invest them in upgrades to our system?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I do not have all the details on their dividend flow. You can put that question down to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises. I do know that they have spent about $3 billion in terms of upgrades of the national grid. Where I find myself a bit confused is that the Labour Party went on that the mixed-ownership model was terrible—[Interruption ]Mr SPEAKER: Order! And the Prime Minister can resume his seat as well.David Shearer: What does the Prime Minister say to the thousands of Genesis customers who as a result of the decision to take the dividends rather than invest them in the national grid are now paying for the upgrade to that grid through higher power prices?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I do not accept that assertion. I go back to the point that I was making which is that I have seen statements that actually the Government should be taking more dividends not fewer dividends. Those statements came from David Shearer.Metiria Turei: Does the Prime Minister stand by his statement “the Government has been very transparent about its dealings with SkyCity”?Mr SPEAKER: Order! Can I just clarify—the member just called to take a supplementary question and has now moved immediately as far as I can see to question No. 2.Metiria Turei: No Mr Speaker. Question No. 2 is to the Minister for Economic Development and asks him about that statement. Mine is a supplementary question to question 1.Mr SPEAKER: So it is a supplementary question. Can I hear the supplementary question again please.Metiria Turei: Does the Prime Minister stand by his statement “the Government has been very transparent about its dealings with SkyCity”?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Yes but in the context I would have made it.Metiria Turei: Why has his Government refused to release advice on the social harms associated with this deal until after it is signed?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I do not have those details but if you put the question down to the Minister I am sure he will answer that for you.Metiria Turei: Is the Prime Minister refusing to release information on the social harms from this deal because he knows that it will increase the opposition to the deal by Aucklanders after 61 percent have said that they oppose it and the Auckland Council voted against it?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: To the best of my knowledge my office is not refusing to release it but if you put the question down to the Minister I am sure he will answer that for you.Metiria Turei: Does the Prime Minister believe that the cost of the social harm of the deal is a relevant consideration for Parliament when deciding on whether to support gambling law changes that he has promised will be part of this dirty deal?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I do not have the details of that with me so I cannot answer that question.Metiria Turei: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I asked the Prime Minister whether he believes that these issues were a relevant consideration not to provide specific information. He does have the ability to answer that question.Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member was very lucky to have the question left in order particularly with the qualification she added to the end of it. Does she have further supplementaries?Metiria Turei: Yes. Will the Prime Minister agree to allow a personal vote on any changes to relax gambling law in SkyCity’s favour so that MPs can vote with their consciences on this dirty deal?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: No that is not my intention.Metiria Turei: When the Prime Minister told this House that his Government was being “very transparent” about its dealings with SkyCity was he deliberately lying to us?Mr SPEAKER: Order! That question is out of order.