Woods Megan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeWoods Megan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 27 August 2013. Volume:693;Page:12938. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]5.Dr MEGAN WOODS (Labour—Wigram) to theMinister of Science and Innovation: What reports or briefings has he received regarding the commercial future ofKiwiStar Optics?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Science and Innovation): As I advised the member in my answer to written question No. 10617 as at 12 August I had received five reports containing information relating toKiwiStar Optics. The names of those reports are listed in that written question which was lodged on 12 August. Since that time I have received one additional fortnightly progress update report that includes information relating toKiwiStar Optics.Dr Megan Woods: Is Callaghan Innovation planning to license or sellKiwiStar Optics’ intellectual property primary design and/or rights to the Australian Government - owned Australian Astronomical Observatory?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I am not aware of that. I do know that Callaghan Innovation is looking for a range of options in terms ofKiwiStar Optics’ future to encourage opportunities for that organisation.Dr Megan Woods: How much public funding hasKiwiStar Optics received since 2008?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I do not have that answer for the member in front of me. If she would like to put it down in a written question I would be happy to provide that information.Dr Megan Woods: Given that the Government invested $1.4 million inKiwiStar Optics in 2008 what returns can the New Zealand taxpayer now expect given that Callaghan Innovation has refused to sign a major commercial contract?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Well it is an interesting question the member raises which I suggest suggests that she does not actually understand the issues that are there. Callaghan Innovation was looking at signing—Hon Trevor Mallard: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I apologise. We have a point of order.Hon Trevor Mallard: That was a very straight question. The Minister did not need to denigrate the questioner in the answer.Mr SPEAKER: Order! It was a straight question. I would like the opportunity to listen to the answer. If we could hear from the Minister then I will judge—[Interruption] I do not accept that there was a denigration at all.Hon STEVEN JOYCE: As I was saying I think there is a misunderstanding there because the reason—[Interruption]Hon Trevor Mallard: That’s not what you said.Mr SPEAKER: Order! Would you allow the Minister to answer the question.Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Well I said I think the member has made a misunderstanding there. You can get me to repeat it as often as you like Trevor but I think she did. The point in regard to this is that one of the major reasons Callaghan Innovation did not want to sign that contract was the very significant fiscal risk that it believes it would have to take up for what was a fixed-price fixed-term contract—[Interruption] He is back. It was a fixed-term fixed-price contract that carried significant risk so it could end up actually costing taxpayers more money and there would be no return from it.Dr Megan Woods: Does the Minister consider it Callaghan Innovation’s core business to shut down high-value science and manufacturing opportunities in New Zealand as it has done withKiwiStar Optics?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Well the member is simply incorrect. It has not done anything of the sort. What it is looking for is opportunities forKiwiStar Optics.Dr Megan Woods: Selling it to the Aussies.Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Well if the member is saying that it should never ever sell any of its capability to anybody then Callaghan Innovation will always end up doing what it always did. What we are working on here is actually getting closer to businesses that need research and development support and that is the whole principle of Callaghan Innovation. If the member disagrees with that she is welcome to it but I am very much in favour of it.Hon Trevor Mallard: What value is there to the taxpayer by sending eight to 10 of our brightest and best scientists and technicians to Australia?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Nobody is suggesting that. I appreciate that is Mr Mallard’s view but that is not what is being suggested.Hon Trevor Mallard: That’s exactly what’s going to happen. He knows it.Hon STEVEN JOYCE: No it is not. It is absolutely wrong Trevor—absolutely wrong.