Goff Phil: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Goff Phil: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:663;Page:11289] 
3. 
Hon PHIL GOFF (Leader of the Opposition) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Do his answers to question for oral answer No. 1 yesterday mean that he has ruled out ever initiating the privatisation of Kiwibank? 
Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister) 
: 
 My answers to question No. 1 yesterday mean that the Government has given no consideration to selling Kiwibank. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. If I had asked the Prime Minister whether he had given any consideration that answer would have been totally appropriate. I asked whether he has ruled it out which is a yes or no answer. It might be “No we haven’t ruled it out because we haven’t considered it— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No no. The point of order was fair enough but the question the Prime Minister was asked was: “Do his answers to question for oral answer No. 1 yesterday mean”—that he has ruled out something. The member has asked the Prime Minister what he meant in his answers and the Prime Minister has told the honourable member what he meant by his answers. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: Why will the Prime Minister not be honest and up front with New Zealanders about what he really wants to do in regard to privatising Kiwibank? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Forgive me; I do not like interfering in questions. But one must not imply that the Prime Minister might not have been honest. I invite the member to reword his question. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: Why will the Prime Minister not be up front with New Zealanders and simply tell them whether he wants to privatise Kiwibank? 
Hon JOHN KEY 
: Because no consideration has been given to selling any assets yet. But if I ever do get around to selling $9.5 billion worth as that member did I will let the public know. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: Does the Prime Minister agree with the departing chief executive officer of Kiwibank Sam Knowles that it is important that Kiwibank remains in New Zealand ownership? 
Hon JOHN KEY 
: I think that a number of factors make Kiwibank successful. One of them has been the implied Government guarantee from the New Zealand Government. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: Will the Prime Minister rule out privatising Meridian Energy? 
Hon JOHN KEY 
: No consideration has been given to selling any State-owned enterprises yet. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: Will the Prime Minister rule out privatising Mighty River Power? 
Hon JOHN KEY 
: My last answer suffices for this question—and for any others they want to go through. But I can assure the member I will not be selling the companies on the very long list I have here because they have already been sold by the member previously. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: Is the Prime Minister then prepared to rule out privatising Genesis Energy? 
Hon JOHN KEY 
: My previous answer stands. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: Has the Prime Minister ever discussed with members of the National Party business people or anybody else his preference for privatising State-owned companies? 
Hon JOHN KEY 
: In my 8 years in politics people have raised that question with me all the time. I say the same thing that I will say to that member: I am not ideologically opposed to asset sales but this Government has not considered them at this time.