Roche Denise: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeRoche Denise: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 13 June 2013. Volume:691;Page:11125. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]4.DENISE ROCHE (Green)to theMinister for Economic Development: Will the Government release papers detailing the costs of gambling-related social harm at Skycity Auckland before the final sign off on the Skycity convention centre deal; if not when will these papers be released?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister for Economic Development):No. As I have said publicly a number of times I would anticipate that if and when negotiations are complete and a final agreement is signed with Skycity the Government will then proactively release a large number of documents previously withheld on the basis of commercial sensitivity and prejudicing the Crown’s position in commercial negotiations. As the member will appreciate due to the ongoing nature of negotiations with Skycity it is not possible to provide her with a fixed date yet at this time.Denise Roche: What is the estimated cost per annum of the social harm caused by the Skycity deal?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I think the member is asking me to provide that information now and I have just answered to the primary question why I am not prepared to provide that information at this point. But as I have said previously once and if an agreement is completed the intention would be to release that information.Denise Roche: Has he received any advice regarding the social harm caused by the 12 extra gaming tables granted to Skycity under this deal given these tables are the equivalent of an extra 240 poker machines as they allow up to 20 people to play games from a central computer; if so what was that advice?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I do not necessarily agree with the member’s characterisation of those machines but again I would not want to give the advice at this time. I suppose I could just say in more broad terms that it is possible to have social harm from any nature of social activities—for example having drinks at a corporate box at a rugby match with Skycity—Denise Roche: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption ] Order! I have a point of order from Denise Roche.Denise Roche: The question related to poker machines not to Skycity corporate boxes.Mr SPEAKER: I think the bigger—[Interruption ]Denise Roche: Supplementary question.Mr SPEAKER: Supplementary question Denise Roche.Denise Roche: What evidence if any does he have that the Host Responsibility measures proposed in the heads of agreement by Skycity will reduce problem gambling and will those Host Responsibility measures be subject to review by independent experts; if not why not?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Again the member is asking me to particularly address the information that I have said that I will release in due course. But it is important—and I can point out again for her—that in relation to the requirement for Skycity to meet its Host Responsibility requirements none of that is changed by any proposed agreement. It would be required to meet the requirements that are set up and overseen by the Gambling Commission so none of that changes.Denise Roche: Why did he not instruct financial consultant KordaMentha to count the costs of the social harm of this deal when it was contracted to analyse its costs and benefits?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The purpose of the KordaMentha report was to assess the economic value of the arrangements between the parties to ensure that they were fair on an economic basis. The social harm discussion is dealt with separately with a separate stream of advice and as I say that will be released in due course.Denise Roche: Does he consider that any social harm caused by the deal is a cost to the Crown and the country and why has he not let the public know about that before the contract is signed?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Well as I said at the time the Government has made its assessment. Cabinet has made its assessment of the merits of any arrangement and considered an arrangement and has on balance decided to proceed on the basis that the benefits of it outweigh the costs. That is Cabinet’s view. As I said there is a range of supporting information that will be released in due course.Denise Roche: Why will he not release the papers detailing the financial and other costs of social harm before signing the deal? Is he concerned about the outcry from the Auckland public if they know in advance how bad this deal will be for their communities?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: No I am not concerned about that at all. It is just not appropriate when there is a whole range of information that is being considered as part of the negotiations of the final agreement. I noticed there are a number of people in public who are saying that they are very concerned. Some of them of course have close links to various political parties. Other members of the public probably have a more even view which is around the balance of economic growth and jobs versus the potential for some social harm and I am sure they will consider that when and if any deal is finalised and legislation is put before the House.