Parker David: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeParker David: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 01 March 2016. Volume:711;Page:9211. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]12.Hon DAVID PARKER (Labour) to the Minister for Economic Development: Does he stand by the statement reportedly made on his behalf two weeks ago that the Saudi sheep deal is Murray McCully’s and all questions should be directed at him?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister for Economic Development): Yes I stand by the fact that in response to a media inquiry as to whom they should speak about the Saudi agri-hub my press secretary responded that the Minister of Foreign Affairs is the Minister responsible for this issue and that is because he is.Hon David Parker: Does he deny that his office also contacted a journalist to complain that Radio New Zealand had mentioned him Mr Joyce in a Saudi sheep story?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I do deny that because I understand from the press secretary that it was not a complaint at all.Hon David Parker: Does his office often phone up journalists asking that Mr Joyce’s name not be associated with Murray McCully’s deals?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: No not at all. I enjoy being associated with my friend Mr Murray McCully whom I have known for many years and he is a very efficient and effective Minister of Foreign Affairs.Hon David Parker: Does he accept that his department New Zealand Trade and Enterprise has primary responsibility to administer the millions his Government is spending on this Saudi farm in the desert; if so why has he repeatedly refused to answer parliamentary and media questions?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The member may recall there was a Cabinet document put up by Mr McCully—which is in the public domain—in February 2013 that has been provided to the Labour Party where Mr McCully took the lead on that issue. He has asked New Zealand Trade and Enterprise to manage that issue which as far as I am concerned it is doing well but Mr McCully has retained the leadership on that issue.Hon David Parker: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I think my question was pretty direct—Mr SPEAKER: Order! No there were two parts to your question and the second part has now been addressed.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Another question from Radio New Zealand—oh sorry Radio Labour.Hon David Parker: I hope the media heard that.Mr SPEAKER: Order! I did not hear the interjection but the interjection from Mr Brownlee will cease—[Interruption] Order!Hon David Parker: Will the Minister assure Parliament today that in his opinion all parts of the Saudi sheep deal with the Al-Khalaf Group are 100 percent proper and complied with Government procurement and appropriation rules?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: To my knowledge yes but the reality is that particular arrangement is run by Mr McCully. I know the member put down some questions to him a couple of weeks ago and I think they were satisfactorily answered.Hon David Parker: Is the reason that his staff have said to the media that all questions about the Saudi sheep deal should be directed to Murray McCully because he does not want to be tainted?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The member I think is wasting the House’s time—I genuinely believe that is what he is doing. He is so far going down the rabbit-hole he is going to hit his own tail shortly. On the Saudi agri-hub Minister McCully has worked with both the Ministry of Foreign Affairsand New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. He put up a Cabinet paper; Cabinet agreed to it. The member needs to find something to do with his time.