4. Overseas Investment—Overseas Ownership of New Zealand Land SingaporeHon GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam) to the Minister of Foreign AffairsOverseas Investment—Overseas Ownership of New Zealand Land Singapore4. Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: What reports has he received on New Zealand's relationship with important allies?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Minister of Foreign Affairs): A number of reports on New Zealand's relationship with important allies have been received. These reports cover successful meetings with leaders and Foreign Ministers at international meetings such as APEC and the East Asia Summit and indeed some of those reports reflect on their delight at an appointment of a new Foreign Minister.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Oh I should've asked if you'd read the reports. How many Singaporean Government representatives or Ministers raised concerns with him about Singaporeans being banned from purchasing houses in New Zealand as proposed under the Overseas Investment Act amendment which would be in breach of New Zealand's Singapore free-trade agreement?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Well we had a very excellent meeting with the Singaporean Foreign Minister and he said at the opening I will not be raising this subject with you." because he understood that we're working on it into the future and that there was a possible way of resolving it and resolve it we will.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Will Singapore like Australia be carved out of the proposed amendment to the Overseas Investment Act?Mr SPEAKER: No.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: I can answer it though.Mr SPEAKER: No sorry I apologise to the member. I know that he'd like to answer it. This is not a matter of responsibility for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. If that were the case then he should not have answered that it's something he's working on.Mr SPEAKER: I think it's something the Government is working on.Hon Gerry Brownlee: No he—Mr SPEAKER: Well I—no.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: I'm very happy to answer Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: The Minister of Foreign Affairs is seeking leave of the House to answer the question. Is there any objection? There appears to be none.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Thank you very much. The reality is that our relationship with Australia is controlled and regulated in a way that he is asking that question by our CER arrangements and not the deal that was signed in 2001 with Singapore so they are different.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Can he confirm then that it's his Government's intention that there would be no other countries carved out by the Government in this proposed Overseas Investment Act amendment?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The Government's made it very clear that our commitment that we made with respect to overseas ownership concerned every country with the exception of Australia because of the CER arrangements that we had. That is a fact and that's what we're working on.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Can he confirm that the proposal for Singapore to conduct air training at Ōhākea is still on track?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: I'm delighted to confirm that we're continuing our talks with respect to the suitability of Ōhākea and there are other matters to do with costing and long-term budgeting that are being worked on as we speak. We can't announce that with finality today but we are on the case and given that we're the new Government with a bit of drive and unction we'll get it settled much faster than the last one.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Will that drive and "unction" lead to the Singaporean Government being able to purchase land in New Zealand?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Could I say Mr Speaker relating to the previous question they at no time said that they were wanting to buy the Ōhākea base.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. First I should clarify that this is something I'm reasonably familiar with and the question was not about them buying an air base; it was about them buying land in New Zealand given that they're bringing 600 people to live here.Mr SPEAKER: I think what we're now getting is evidence of the problems when Ministers are being asked questions outside the areas where they have indicated they have had discussions or had responsibility for. In this case we've had no indication of that from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and I think the member as a result is just going to have to take the answers he gets.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. This particular project was under the auspices of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the previous Government. Can we perhaps get an indication as to whether or not it's been taken away from the current Minister of Foreign Affairs and given to some other Minister?Mr SPEAKER: Yes you know the member can if he asks a question to that effect. [Interruption] No no no. He's got to ask a question not do it on a point of order.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Is the proposal for Singapore to conduct air training at Ōhākea still something that is in the ambit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Precisely it's in the ambit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs the Government and indeed the Minister of Defence. But I can say having seen the briefing on that proposal at no point did the Singaporeans ever raise the issue of buying land in New Zealand."