Goff Phil: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Goff Phil: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:678;Page:981] 
6. 
Hon PHIL GOFF (Labour—Mt Roskill) 
 to the  
Minister of Foreign Affairs 
: Will proposed changes to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade undermine its ability to carry out its role in promoting New Zealand’s trade security and consular interests? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) 
 on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs: No. The proposals for change put forward by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s senior management are just that: they are proposals. The Minister is aware that some staff hold the view that some aspects of the proposals could impact adversely on New Zealand’s representational interests overseas so the Minister has therefore stated that he and the Government will carefully examine the proposals in parallel with staff consultation to ensure that no initiatives having any adverse impacts are adopted. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: What is the Minister’s response to this cable from his Ambassador to Argentina dated 2 March which describes his Government’s proposal to cut his staff from 11 to four as “Armageddon-like” and utterly “unsustainable” and says that the lack of staff will stop him carrying out core duties like pursuing a free-trade agreement with the three countries he represents New Zealand in plus Brazil—a huge trade bloc? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: As I have already indicated to the House the Minister is aware that some ministry staff hold the view that some of the proposals could impact on New Zealand’s capacity to advance its diplomatic interests. For that reason the Government is carefully considering the proposals. Initiatives that are judged to have the potential to impact negatively on New Zealand’s diplomatic interests will not be entertained by the Minister. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: When senior ambassadors like those in Argentina and Singapore are all telling him on the record that the slash-and-burn cuts will result in “a major reduction in … [New Zealand’s] foreign policy effort” will he listen to them or will he just get his chief executive officer to send out instructions to all ambassadors that they are not to express their concerns in cables to him as happened yesterday? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: My advice to that member is to listen very carefully to answers because if he had listened to the previous answer he would have heard me say on behalf of the Minister that he will be listening very carefully to those members of the diplomatic community who do have concerns. They are proposals for change. He must listen to answers. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: If the Minister is telling the House now that he wants to listen to them why were ambassadors told yesterday—instructed—not to express their concerns to him in cables? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: I am not sure what instructions were issued but I would have thought that if such an instruction was issued it was very good because it would end up in the malignant hands of that member.  
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! The Hon Chris Finlayson will—[ 
Interruption 
] Order! There will be no more interjection. The Hon Chris Finlayson will get to his feet and withdraw and apologise for that last totally unacceptable comment. 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: I withdraw and apologise. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: In the light of the shambles this is now becoming does he now agree—[ 
Interruption 
] Shall I wait for them to stop? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! There will be some silence but the member must recognise that if he makes inflammatory comments in a question there will be a reaction: there will be noise. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: In the light of the responses he is getting does he now agree with this comment: “Few problems are solved by significant reorganisations—in fact many more tend to be created. It is easy to underestimate the amount of energy and inspiration soaked up by institutional change as well as the loss of personal and institutional knowledge.” that being a quote from Mr Key talking to the New Zealand Public Service Association (PSA) in September 2008? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: The Minister and I would totally agree with everything the Prime Minister says— 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: That’s what yes men do. 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: —but I would say this yet again Mr Peters: the Minister is aware that some ministry staff hold the view that some of the proposals could impact on New Zealand’s capacity to advance its diplomatic interests. For that reason the Government is carefully considering those proposals. Initiatives that are judged to have the potential to impact negatively on New Zealand’s diplomatic interests will not be entertained by the Minister. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: I seek leave of the House to table a speech from Mr John Key to the PSA congress on 24 September 2008. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! These speeches are all readily available to members.