Turei Metiria: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Turei Metiria: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 01 May 2012. Volume:679;Page:1770. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
4. 
METIRIA TUREI (Co-Leader—Green) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: What advice if any has he received on Hon John Banks’ alleged actions regarding donations from Kim Dotcom? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister) 
: 
 Mr Banks has advised my office that he has fully complied with the requirements of the Local Electoral Act 2001 in respect of donations.  
Metiria Turei 
: Given this case involves a prima facie case of electoral fraud by a Minister of the Crown why is the Prime Minister relying on the second-hand view to him of the accused Minister rather than considered advice including legal advice about those allegations?  
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: Legal advice is not required; what is required is that a Minister enjoys my confidence. I have sought an assurance from the Minister that he did everything in accordance with the law. He has given me that assurance as he has to the New Zealand public and I accept it.  
Metiria Turei 
: Has the Prime Minister received advice on the  
Cabinet Manual 
 provision that requires Ministers not only to comply with the law but also “to behave in a way that upholds and is seen to uphold the highest ethical standards.” or is it his view that that applies only when he does not rely on that Minister as a coalition partner?  
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: To the latter part of the question no. To the first part of the question no but the Cabinet Office has provided me with advice regarding ministerial and prime ministerial responsibility of the House of Representatives.  
Metiria Turei 
: When the Prime Minister said: “I expect high standards from my Ministers” in relation to Phil Heatley’s financial impropriety was he applying a legal test or the test of the highest ethical standards as set out in the  
Cabinet Manual 
? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: A legal test.  
Metiria Turei 
: Is the Hon John Banks subject to a lesser ethical standard than other Ministers like Phil Heatley because John Banks and the ACT Party are needed to prop up his Government? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: No and no.  
Metiria Turei 
: Is it the case that the Prime Minister is standing by John Banks because he genuinely believes that it is OK for a Minister of the Crown to fiddle with the semantics over electoral fraud allegations or is it because his hold over the House is so tenuous that he cannot afford to do what is right? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: No it is because I have sought an assurance that the Minister did everything in accordance with the law.  
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: You sought an assurance from Nick Smith.  
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: Well I guess there is one difference between this side of the House and that side of the House: we actually have a chief of staff; you do not. Moving that right along I sought an assurance that the Minister had upheld the law—a law passed in 2001 by Labour a law that Labour did not bother changing when it changed the Electoral Finance Act. So it is OK as long as you are in accordance with the law.  
Metiria Turei 
: I seek leave to table the Green Party member’s bill the Local Electoral (Finance) Amendment Bill which would bring the campaign financing rules into alignment— 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: What is the status of that bill?  
Metiria Turei 
: It is a member’s bill.  
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: It has not been drawn? Right so leave is sought for that purpose. Is there anyone opposed to that course of action? There is. 
Metiria Turei 
: I seek leave for the member’s bill the Local Electoral (Finance) Amendment Bill to be introduced forthwith and for it to be set down for first reading as members’ order of the day No. 1 on the next members’ day. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there anyone opposed to that course of action? There is. 
David Shearer 
: Is he satisfied that John Banks has answered media questions about donations with the fullness and frankness he expects of his Ministers? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: I am satisfied that the Minister has given me an assurance which is the test that he has done everything in accordance with the law. 
Hon David Parker 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The question was whether the Prime Minister was satisfied that the Minister had answered media questions with the fullness and frankness he expects and the Prime Minister did not address that question. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: The Prime Minister did answer the question. I am satisfied that the Prime Minister actually answered the question. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Can you give us an indication from your understanding seeing as you are satisfied whether or not he indicated that he was satisfied?  
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: No I am— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: No. So you do not understand either—good.  
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: Order! I do understand.