Carter David: Veterinarians Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
Carter David: Veterinarians Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:628;Page:885] 
Hon DAVID CARTER (National) 
: 
 I refer the Minister in the chair the Hon Jim Anderton to clause 4 “Interpretation” and to the definition of “Minister”: “Minister means the Minister of the Crown who under the authority of a warrant or with the authority of the Prime Minister is for the time being responsible for the administration of this Act”. I want the new Minister of Agriculture the Hon Jim Sutton to take the opportunity— 
Hon Member 
: Jim Anderton. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: Sorry it was a slip. Yes of course. 
Chris Auchinvole 
: An excusable slip. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: Yes an excusable slip. I ask the new Minister the Hon Jim Anderton whether in fact he has had a discussion with the Prime Minister and whether in fact he has been given the responsibility for the administration of this Act because the Minister’s role in the Act is quite important. I note that the provision relating to the composition of the council which we will discuss later on requires the Minister to appoint by notice in the  
Gazette 
 two lay persons and one veterinarian. Therefore I think it is important that the Committee understands who the Minister is because this particular legislation has had a somewhat chequered career in that it was originally under the control of the previous Minister of Agriculture the Hon Jim Sutton. Then by the time it came before the House it was shepherded through its initial stages by and still remains in the name of the Hon Damien O'Connor who I note has not taken part in this debate so far. Therefore I think the Committee deserves to know whether the Minister has been specifically given the role of being responsible for the administration of this Act. 
I say to the new Minister of Agriculture the Hon Jim Anderton— 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: A good man. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: Well Clayton Cosgrove interjects and says that he is a good man. I can speak on behalf of the farmers of New Zealand and say that at this stage they are prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt. I acknowledge that we were long overdue for a new Minister of Agriculture in that his predecessor the Hon Jim Sutton had clearly lost interest in the portfolio. I say to the new Minister in response to the interjection from Clayton Cosgrove that farmers will give him the benefit of the doubt but he will have to do better than he has done so far. He has had two issues of relevance to agriculture. Obviously the first was the apple issue on which we finally have a piece of paper and a report from the Australians but we have a long way to go. 
R Doug Woolerton 
: A piece of paper? 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: Well it is about a 500-page piece of paper; I accept that. The second issue of course and one that is worrying farmers particularly those in Gisborne is the totally zero response from the Government to those guys who have been devastated by two significant floods one after another. 
So I tell the Minister that we require an answer to the particular question I have raised: has he been specifically given at this stage and with the authority of Helen Clark Prime Minister responsibility for the administration of this very vital act?