Shearer David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeShearer David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 11 June 2013. Volume:691;Page:10900. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]2.DAVID SHEARER (Leader of the Opposition)to thePrime Minister: On what date was he his office or the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet first informed that David Henry would not meet his deadline of the end of May as set out in the terms of reference for reporting back and what reason did Mr Henry provide for the delay?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister):The terms of reference anticipated that Mr Henry would present his findings to Mr Kibblewhite and Mr Fletcher by 31 May. This was not strictly a deadline. The report was delivered 2 working days after that date. I am advised that Mr Henry indicated to the Chief Executive of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Director of the Government Communications Security Bureau earlier in the week ending 31 May that there was some risk to the anticipated timetable. He formally confirmed on 31 May that he would likely need to take an extra week to complete the report. As it happened he took only 2 more working days. The reason given for the extra time was that Mr Henry was continuing discussions with one individual. Mr Henry said he needed to complete an interview and then finalise his report.David Shearer: Does he stand by his statement on 29 May that “He does not believe for a moment that his Ministers or their offices leaked the report …”?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I did at the time I made that statement.David Shearer: Does he know who leaked the Kitteridge report and who was it?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: For certain? No I do not know.David Shearer: Why is he not taking all possible steps to firmly establish what Mr Dunne leaked?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Firstly I think Mr Henry is to be congratulated on an extremely thorough report. Secondly that report has led to an outcome which is the resignation of a Minister. Thirdly the only point I could do is I could go and reconstitute the inquiry arguably subpoena the emails and to do so I would subpoena the emails of Andrea Vance.Hon Members: No.Rt Hon JOHN KEY: That is what the member wants. [Interruption ]Mr SPEAKER: Order!Rt Hon JOHN KEY: That is what the member wants. Just as long as the gallery understands that Labour wants to be able to forage around in their emails.David Shearer: Does he understand that there is an important difference between Ministers’ duties to hold confidences and the role of the media and the Opposition to highlight information that has been disclosed to them and why does he continue to confuse the two?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Why does the member believe that it is OK to have one side of the story—David Shearer: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I ask the questions and he is supposed to answer them I thought.Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am going to ask the member to repeat his question please.David Shearer: Does he understand that there is an important difference between Ministers’ duties to hold confidences and the role of the media or Opposition to highlight information that has been disclosed to them and why does he confuse the two?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I understand completely my responsibilities as Prime Minister—that was to try to get an answer to the matter. I commissioned a full report. Secondly I understand the need for balance. So if we are going to have a full understanding of everything in those emails that Mr Dunne is not prepared to release himself then we need to see both sides and while we are at it we will get Phil Goff’s emails about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Why did you allow the Prime Minister to add on that last part when it is not part of the question or any inquiry or above all the severe embarrassment the Government is now under?Mr SPEAKER: Because as I interpreted the answer from the Prime Minister I did not think it was out of order at the time.David Shearer: Does he believe his Ministers should be held accountable for leaking information that they have a duty to hold confidential and given Mr Dunne’s continued denials how can he leave the matter there?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: It is quite clear that the Minister has been held to account. He has been asked to comply with the inquiry he has failed to do so and he has lost his ministerial warrant. But there is a simple way of clearing this up. Apparently Mr Peters has got the emails. Maybe he could give them to Mr Shearer.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have a point of order from the Rt Hon Winston Peters and it will be heard in silence.Rt Hon Winston Peters: That was totally outside the Standing Orders. The Prime Minister is meant to be terse and to the point. The last time that challenge came and he was told by me that his Minister was gone he laughed then but he is not laughing now. The fact is that on the question of disclosure of the five different electronic records there are the Prime Minister is the person responsible for that. So we all have a true and full picture and thank you for that point of order.Mr SPEAKER: And it was not a point of order.