Worth Richard: Tariff (New Zealand - Thailand Closer Economic Partnership) Bill — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee Third Reading 
Worth Richard: Tariff (New Zealand - Thailand Closer Economic Partnership) Bill — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:626;Page:21420] 
Dr RICHARD WORTH (National—Epsom) 
: 
 That is absolutely shameful but it exemplifies what has characterised this debate through the stubborn refusal of the Minister to answer reasonable questions put to him. There is a strange phrase for those who may be listening to this debate that finds its way into the jargon of Parliament and that is to talk about “strangers in the House”. Those are people who are not members of Parliament but are in the debating chamber. To the right of the Speaker’s chair are six or seven high-ranking and powerful officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. They know the answers to the questions we have been asking the Minister. The Minister is determined to remain mute and not respond. He has offered three explanations some conflicting on one of the issues relating to the Treaty of Waitangi but he has not dealt directly with the questions that have been asked. He has not dealt with this other issue relating to the need for Part 2. 
I come to the particular part we are concerned with and that is the question of the commencement date for this legislation. The answer is very simple of course: because that is the date that this particular trade treaty comes into force. It was signed in April. The plan is for it to come into force on 1 July. That is why we are in urgency. Certainly it was a great and worthwhile—and I mean that—plan to embark on a bilateral trade treaty with Thailand. I think legitimately the public and I hope the negotiators saw the substantial benefits that might flow from a treaty. Those aspirations have been significantly eroded by limitations in the treaty that have been the subject of comment by others. 
But I would say that this closer economic partnership marks the beginning of a new era in which New Zealand and Thailand will work together and build on their long-established relationship. I would also say that the closer economic partnership is a building block for inter-regional trade with other ASEAN countries. So it has strategic as well as economic significance. Traditionally New Zealand’s main exports to Thailand have been commodities while Thai exports to New Zealand have been motor vehicles air conditioning and machinery. So New Zealanders are not really aware of the sophistication of the Thai market and conversely Thais have not seen New Zealand’s capabilities in business innovation and cutting-edge technology. 
I believe that Thailand and its neighbours are a key export market for New Zealand companies. Certainly with incomes rising in Thailand a growing middle class economic growth being steady and brand-conscious consumers all looks good in the context of the long-term potential of this market. There is huge scope for example in areas such as cooperation in automotive components. As others have said Thailand is the Detroit of the East. 
I urge the Minister to respond to legitimate questions that National has raised in the context of this debate. Why is there a need to be evasive? Why is there a need to hesitate and not furnish answers? Why must the Minister—as he has done—persist in this debate with cheap and sniping attacks on National members? We deserve better than that. In this critical area— 
Hon David Cunliffe 
: He’s one of the most expensive Ministers we have got. 
Dr RICHARD WORTH 
: There is nothing cheap about this Minister an intervener says from across the way. Well the Minister has an opportunity to show what he is made of and I hope that he does because we are entitled to answers.