Brash Don: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Brash Don: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:631;Page:3249] 
1. Dr DON BRASH (Leader of the Opposition) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Does she believe the Hon David Cunliffe was correct to have made the statements he made last week regarding Telecom’s dividend policy; if so why? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister) 
: 
 I consider that the Minister was commenting generally as many others have. I await the Securities Commission’s findings. 
Dr Don Brash 
: Does the Prime Minister accept that the Hon David Cunliffe’s comments wiped $200 million of value off the Telecom shares held by Kiwi mums and dads and that it should have been obvious to him that his comments would have such an effect; if not why not? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I await the Securities Commission’s findings but I do note that Telecom today is trading higher than it was before the comments were made. 
Dr Don Brash 
: Is it not correct that the Hon David Cunliffe has access to material that could—and indeed should—be considered inside information and that his statement directly resulted in a very large loss for thousands of ordinary Kiwi shareholders in Telecom; if so how can she possibly believe it is acceptable in any way for him to comment on Telecom’s dividend policy? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I am surprised the Leader of the Opposition does not accept the word of the chair of Telecom who said he had not given the Minister any indications of the company’s dividend plans. 
Dr Don Brash 
: Was the Prime Minister aware prior to making her comments defending the Hon David Cunliffe that last year he flagrantly breached an obligation of confidentiality and inappropriately passed to the Commerce Commission confidential information supplied to him by Vodafone and Telecom which the Commerce Commission intended to release until it was restrained from doing so by the High Court? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I have no such advice. 
Dr Don Brash 
: What steps if any has the Prime Minister taken to address the very serious comments made by Justice Ronald Young in relation to the Hon David Cunliffe’s actions last year that Vodafone’s “concern is that the Minister in giving the confidential information to the Commerce Commission breached what they say is their right to confidentiality with regard to the information. I agree with Vodafone’s submission.”? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I have been advised that at all times the Minister acted on advice. 
Dr Don Brash 
: Does the Prime Minister agree that the Hon David Cunliffe’s record so far as Minister of Communications suggests he has an appalling and unacceptable grasp of his responsibility as a Minister in a commercially sensitive sector; if not why not? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: No and indeed I have observed to date that Mr Cunliffe’s performance in this House has been a good deal more successful than the member’s. 
Dr Don Brash 
: I seek leave to table a High Court judgment dated 12 October 2005 that castigates the Hon David Cunliffe for releasing information supplied to him confidentially by Vodafone. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is.