Cunliffe David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Cunliffe David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:658;Page:7415] 
4.  
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Labour—New Lynn) 
 to the  
Minister of Finance 
: Does he stand by all his recent statements? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House) 
 on behalf of the  
Minister of Finance 
: Yes. 
Hon David Cunliffe 
: Did he use his influence as shareholding Minister to promote himself and the views of the National Government in an advertisement that ran during prime time on Television New Zealand (TVNZ)? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: No. TVNZ invited him to appear and the promotion clearly plays on his name—“in plain English”. He assumes that the company invited him to be on the programme and to front it because he is considered to be almost as economically literate as the Prime Minister and most likely almost as good looking as him as well. He is sure that if the— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I have called the Hon David Cunliffe. I think we have heard sufficient. 
Hon David Cunliffe 
: Can he confirm whether TVNZ approached him or his office regarding this self-promotion “in plain English” or did he or his office approach TVNZ? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: I suggest that the question is inappropriately asked because it talks about who approached whom over self-promotion. I made it very clear in the first answer that TVNZ had invited the Minister to appear. It is their initiative it is their programme and it is their format. The Minister has simply said that yes he will participate. I am sure that if the Labour Party had had something important to say it would have been equally welcome to participate. 
Hon David Cunliffe 
: Has the Minister or his staff had any input into the preparation scripting or editing of this promotion at any time? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: As I said before it is a TVNZ initiative. Their invitation was issued to the office of the Minister of Finance and— 
Hon David Cunliffe 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The question was a different question from the previous supplementary question. The previous supplementary question to be fair to the Minister asked who had approached whom and the Minister answered that question. The second supplementary question asked whether the Minister or his staff had had any input into or involvement in the preparation of—any involvement of any kind—the production of that promotion. It is not— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I think the member has made his point. I ask the Minister to come to the answer. 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: Of course his office has not been involved in matters relating to the production of the programme nor has his office been involved in promoting the programme. But his office most certainly has been concerned to ensure the accuracy of the script. Of course I am sure that one or two of his advisers advised him on how he should appear on the programme. None of that would be unusual. 
Hon David Cunliffe 
: In taking advice from TVNZ as to the accuracy of the script or what he should wear did the Minister or his office discuss any aspect of this self-promotion with the Prime Minister or with anyone from his office or department including the Cabinet Office given the requirements of the  
Cabinet Manual 
 relating to perceived conflicts of interest? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: The member clearly misheard the answer to the previous question. The Minister’s office—naturally with the Minister—was concerned as to the accuracy of the scripts not TVNZ itself. As to the other matters communications within the Government are going along just well and fine thank you very much. 
Hon David Cunliffe 
: Does he think it is “a good look” for him as a shareholding Minister in TVNZ to be spending taxpayers’ money on a broadcast promoting his own views called “in plain English” when that title mimics the title of his own political National Party email newsletter? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: I simply say that sometimes one cannot help good luck. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Did the invitation from TVNZ come before or after he used a seven-letter word beginning with “f” followed by a four-letter word beginning with “c” in a conversation with the person in charge of editorial policy for TVNZ? 
Hon Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I do not believe that question is within the Standing Orders; it certainly is not within the decorum of this House and I struggle to see what possible point Trevor Mallard MP could be trying to make. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I do not need to hear further on the point of order. I waited to see how members of the House would react to that particular question because it was patently obvious to anyone who heard it what was meant. It certainly in my view was right on the boundaries of whether it should be allowed in this House and that a member objected to it is I think grounds to invite the member to reword his question. I do not want him to lose a supplementary question but I think we cannot allow that language to stand in the House when a member has objected to it. If the member could reword his question so that its language does not offend. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Did the invitation to appear on the programme come before or after he swore at the person in charge of TVNZ editorial policy and thereby put pressure on a company that he is an ownership Minister of? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: I doubt that question would meet many of the requirements of the Standing Orders given that it was so full of assumption and assertion. But what I can say is that in order for an accurate answer to be given I suggest the member put the question down as a written question so that all members can know exactly on what date what took place.