Norman Russel William: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Norman Russel William: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:648;Page:17113] 
8.  
Dr RUSSEL NORMAN (Co-Leader—Green) 
 to the  
Minister of Agriculture 
: Why did the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry make a submission to Horizons Regional Council opposing a draft standard requiring all rivers and streams in the Manawatu-Wanganui region to be safe for swimming? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON (Minister of Agriculture) 
: 
 The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry did no such thing. Its submission to the proposed plan of Horizons Regional Council was very supportive of the restoration of waterways. The section the member is concerned about starts by stating: “MAF supports the sustainable water programme of action outcome to improve the quality and efficiency of fresh water by building and enhancing partnerships.” Further on the submission did state opposition to one clause in schedule D of the proposal because of a concern that the ambition was unrealistic. These were technical measures that the ministry was commenting on. The submission was withdrawn some months ago when this issue first came up. It was withdrawn because it was clear that this one clause was being misinterpreted as opposition to a general ambition—an ambition supported by the ministry—to make all waterways clean. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Can the Minister confirm that the ministry’s submission was withdrawn only after pressure from the Green Party; and can he also confirm that its submission was identical in purpose to the Federated Farmers submission both of them aiming to knock out exactly the same clause of the draft plan—that is the clause that aimed to make rivers and streams safe for swimming? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: No I cannot confirm that—in fact I can confirm otherwise. The ministry’s submission was withdrawn after senior officials of the ministry determined that that particular clause was not being interpreted properly. I have here the full submission by the ministry. If there is any relationship between this submission and the Federated Farmers submission I would be very surprised. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Has he received any advice that not only were the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Federated Farmers both singing from the same song sheet but also Landcorp the Government’s own company made a submission also trying to knock out this exact clause—the clause that is aimed at making our rivers safe for children to swim in? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: I have received no such advice and if the member is going to be here for a little longer he will discover that it would be surprising to any member of this House and equally to the ministry and Federated Farmers to know that we are both singing from the same song sheet. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Has he received any advice that the Landcorp submission stated “The values management objectives and methods used to determine water quality standards do not appear to have been formulated on the basis of robust analysis.” which seems remarkably similar to the submission from the former Federated Farmers president Charlie Pederson which states: “The values management objectives and methods used to determine water quality standards do not appear to have been formulated on the basis of robust analysis.”; and has the Minister sought any advice as to why Federated Farmers and a State-owned enterprise are using exactly the same words in their submissions against clean rivers? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: It may come as a surprise to the member but I have no ministerial responsibility for Landcorp nor do I have any ministerial responsibility for Federated Farmers. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: In light of this evidence of cooperation between Federated Farmers Landcorp and possibly even the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry does the Minister stand by his statement of 31 January: “Claims by the Green Party that the Government has been ‘hijacked’ by Federated Farmers over water policy are simply ridiculous”; and does he agree that if something looks like a hijack smells like a hijack and reads like a hijack then maybe it really is a hijack? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: It would come as a complete surprise to Federated Farmers that the ministry has been hijacked by them or they have been hijacked by us. I suggest to the member that he takes a little bit of quiet time after getting into Parliament and breathes through his nose for a while and stops making cheap political points. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: I seek the leave of the House to table the submission from Landcorp on the Manawatu— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: I seek the leave of the House to table a remarkably similar submission from Charlie Pederson— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes there is.