Smith Nick: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Smith Nick: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:611;Page:8534] 
11.  
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (NZ National—Nelson) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Does she stand by her statements in respect of “corngate” on National Radio on 11 July 2002 “I believe in total disclosure on this.” and “I’m not putting any restrictions on anyone talking about this.”? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister) 
: 
 The statement was made on 11 July the day after the Hager book appeared when I said officials should come forward to brief the media on what had happened—and they did that very day. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: Will the Government instruct GeneScan Australia—a 100 percent New Zealand Government - owned company—to appear before the Local Government and Environment Committee inquiry so that we can question it about the test results that go to the core of whether the corn was contaminated; if not does it not seem extraordinary that a company owned by the taxpayers of New Zealand is not accountable to a select committee of this Parliament? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: This issue has been raised a couple of times before and as I recall the advice I have had was that the Government could not instruct it. If I could make my own views clear I think it would be preferable if the company did come forward but I do not believe we have the ability to instruct it. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: What sort of example does the Prime Minister think she has set for Syngenta the company that imported the seed and refuses to front and GeneScan Australia the New Zealand - owned company that did the testing and refuses to front by her decision despite making a number of phone calls and despite receiving a number of pieces of advice and her own department playing a key role as the Prime Minister; the question is this— 
Hon Steve Maharey 
: Can we have the question? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member concerned knows he is not allowed to interject while questions are being asked. He will leave the Chamber. 
Hon Steve Maharey withdrew from the Chamber. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: What sort of example does the Prime Minister think she is setting by refusing to front before the select committee when the company at the centre of the inquiry Syngenta is refusing to appear and so too is the company GeneScan Australia; and why does she not set a good example by fronting answering the questions and thus ensuring that we can get those other companies to answer as well? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: There is clearly a considerable difference between the position of seed importers and seed testers at the heart of the issue and the position of the Prime Minister—who was frankly very peripherally involved. 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: Is the Prime Minister saying that she cannot force GeneScan Australia to appear before the select committee because while it is 100 percent owned by the New Zealand Government it is registered as a legal entity in Melbourne? That may be the legal position but surely with her Government having two Ministers as 100 percent shareholding Ministers why will she not instruct them to instruct that company to make that information available to the select committee; and does she not think it curious that the four critical samples—and they were the largest samples—that each showed some GM contamination were not made available or is it that those samples do not exist any more? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: As I said this issue has arisen a couple of times. As I recall the advice I have is that the Government is not in a position to instruct them to appear. I really cannot add to that. I suggest the member put down questions to the responsible Ministers for the Crown research institute or State-owned enterprise or whatever is the holding company.