8. Question No. 8—Foreign AffairsHon GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam) to the Minister of Foreign AffairsQuestion No. 8—Foreign Affairs8. Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Has work by his officials on a trans-Tasman bubble progressed to a point where he can put a date on its start?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Minister of Foreign Affairs): We considered the issue of a trans-Tasman bubble even before New Zealand went into lockdown. Our responsibility was to try and anticipate every outcome and ensure that we make the right decisions when faced with tough choices. On 23 March 2020 before the lockdown began I met with the chief executive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and started our plan to develop a trans-Tasman bubble that day. We committed to talking to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in Australia and begin communications on this project. The House should note that at the same time many many countries weren't even thinking about the effects of COVID-19.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Have the parameters for a trans-Tasman bubble been discussed by Cabinet?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: It is true to say that Cabinet colleagues are well aware of the work that's been going on with respect to this. But despite all the work that's gone on this is not a decision that we can make just by ourselves. It has to be made with a country called Australia which unfortunately—or fortunately depending on how you look at it—constitutionally has a federal system. And so it's also to be made there state by state as you see. So if for example Australia is not travelling interstate it's very difficult for us to go inter-country. But we're working as hard as we can on it.Hon Gerry Brownlee: So have the parameters for a trans-Tasman bubble been discussed by Cabinet?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: If the member means by parameters" the restrictions the answer is no because again—because we do believe in consultation on this side of the House—we're in full consultation with my counterpart in Australia the Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne. The Prime Minister has been in discussion with Scott Morrison the Australian Prime Minister. And so with respect to the parameters that will be an agreement between both of our countries on all aspects of the trans-Tasman bubble as to when it gets started.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Does he appreciate that without a publicly available time line tourism business planning is very difficult and will lead to even more job losses?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: I think the answer and evidence for that is that on 23 March before we went into the lockdown my department started work with DFAT Australia to ensure that when the time came for us to be able to inter-country travel we'd be ready. Yes we do appreciate that. That's why we didn't waste one day of our time.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Then would he be prepared to speculate for the House about what a time line might look like? In the absence of an official time line at least some hope for those businesses might be able to be given to the House by the Minister today.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Can I say that if one wanted to cross one's bridges before you got to them you might talk about speculating but that would be irresponsible in the extreme because we're talking with other countries and other states apart from Western Australia Tasmania Queensland New South Wales and dare I say it in time Victoria. And to say you're going to get up and speculate about something like that when the province of decision making lies in their hands as well would be utterly wrong. That's why we're in foreign affairs. We do things with tact and diplomacy.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Then is it reasonable for New Zealanders following this question to assume that there's been no point where a trans-Tasman bubble can be identified as likely to occur?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: It would be entirely wrong to be misled by such a forecast or prescription as the one we've just heard. The truth is as I've said on 23 March we started working on this. It requires us to go interstate as well. I know for example the Premier of Tasmania has said he wants to open up now. We know that New South Wales has a similar view. There's a tremendous number of people in the tourism industry in Queensland who also want the same but the state is not ready yet by their public pronouncements. We have got a system of Government unlike theirs. They have a federal system; the decision has to be made not just by Canberra but by every state capital. It makes it very complex but it doesn't mean that we have not with fervour and unction and urgency got on with the job.Hon Stuart Nash: Has the Minister seen any politicians advocating for a bubble with China and what is his view on that?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: I can say yes I have seen that—SPEAKER: No. I'm going to interrupt. The question was one relating to the trans-Tasman and the Tasman Sea doesn't go that far.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. You might say that excepting that when that was propositioned in this House there was a suggestion that it did go that far and that we add it to the trans-Tasman bubble. That's why I think it's apposite and relevant. Can I answer it please because I'm certainly prepared to.SPEAKER: If the question had been phrased in that way then the member would have been allowed to answer it.Hon Stuart Nash: With regard to a trans-Tasman bubble or any other bubbles opening up has the Minister of Foreign Affairs heard suggestions that there should be any other countries that we should form a bubble with?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The answer is: most certainly—Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I can understand why the Minister wants to answer that question. It might save a little bit of grace for him given the answers—SPEAKER: Order! Have we got a point of order?Hon Gerry Brownlee: Yes I have.SPEAKER: Well get to it because the member is not starting that way.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Surely simply by referring to the trans-Tasman bubble and then asking for "any other" is not strictly in line with the primary question that's been carefully put on the Order Paper today.SPEAKER: The member's absolutely right."