Jones Shane: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeJones Shane: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 18 February 2014. Volume:696;Page:15976. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]3.Hon SHANE JONES (Labour) to theMinister of Commerce: Was he made aware of any concerns regarding the behaviour of supermarkets towards suppliers prior to 12 February 2014?Hon CRAIG FOSS (Minister of Commerce): Yes but I was not aware of the specific behaviours raised by that member alleging blackmail extortion and retrospective payments in the New Zealand supermarket sector.Hon Shane Jones: Is he concerned that despite anonymity in this case in terms of an investigation by the Commerce Commission New Zealand - based suppliers are fearful that what they tell the regulator could be passed on to the Australian Woolworths supermarket chain and they could end up being blacklisted off Australian supermarket shelves?Hon CRAIG FOSS: I understand that the Commerce Commission itself has actually issued a press release reinforcing the confidential nature of any complaint. The Commerce Commission as part of its normal business is dealing with sensitive affairs at all times and as in that press release treats matters in confidence and very sensitively.Hon Shane Jones: Is the Minister prepared to release to the public what correspondence he has received in respect of this egregious behaviour by Australian-based supermarkets in the world of New Zealand commerce?Hon CRAIG FOSS: As I noted in the answer to the primary question in regard to the specific allegations of blackmail of extortion and of retrospective payments that the member made I am not aware of receiving any information along those lines.Hon Shane Jones: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I did not specify the language used in his response. I invited him to declare to the House that he would release correspondence he has received in respect of egregious supermarket behaviour.Mr SPEAKER: And as I understood the answer the Minister said—he may want to elaborate—that he was unaware of any correspondence to that effect. Does the Minister want to elaborate?Hon CRAIG FOSS: Correspondence that I have had since these allegations were raised I will be treating in confidence and sending to the Commerce Commission.Hon Shane Jones: Will the Minister support my call to broaden the terms of the Commerce Commission inquiry into excess power wielded by the supermarkets especially Australian over suppliers and customers?Hon CRAIG FOSS: This issue has been around for quite some time in regard to the supermarket sector. I note that the former Minister of Commerce the Hon Lianne Dalziel put her mind to this matter way back in 2008. It is ongoing. I think that it is right and appropriate that we wait for the formal proper process of the Commerce Commission to deliver its findings.Hon Shane Jones: Why is it his first instinct to back the Aussie-owned supermarket Countdown rather than to back New Zealand businesses and workers and what telephone lobbying has he received to that end?Hon CRAIG FOSS: I resent that accusation. I am not the one who made allegations of blackmail. If the member has allegations of blackmail he should go to the police. I have faith in the processes of this Government and of this Parliament which have been enduring for quite some time. I back competition in New Zealand which under the Commerce Act allows the best prices for New Zealand consumers to be found over time.