8. Question No. 8—TransportCHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Associate Minister of TransportQuestion No. 8—Transport8. CHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Associate Minister of Transport: Does she agree with the statement of Hon Phil Twyford regarding her 26 March 2019 letter She was writing as the associate minister but expressing a view on behalf of the Green Party so it's not all that easy to separate those things out"; if not why not?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Associate Minister of Transport): Yes.Chris Bishop: Is she confident her conduct regarding her 26 March letter to the Hon Phil Twyford is consistent with the Cabinet Manual particularly paragraph 8.25 that says "Ministers should always be clear about the capacity in which they are creating or using information."; if so how?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: Yes. [Interruption] SPEAKER: No. Members are absolutely aware and all members are aware that when two legs are asked in a supplementary question there's no obligation to answer both of them. Members should structure their questions appropriately. Chris Bishop.Chris Bishop: How can she have adhered to paragraph 8.25 of the Cabinet Manual when by her own admission she signed the letter as Associate Minister of Transport wrote it on ministerial letterhead but also now claims the letter expressed her view as the Green Party transport spokesperson?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: As the member knows the content of the letter detailed the views of the Green Party and political consultation and that's why I don't consider it to be in the public interest to release the details of the letter. But as the Cabinet Manual also notes—and that member will be well aware of Cabinet Manual paragraph 2.55—"A Minister of the Crown while holding a ministerial warrant acts in a number of different capacities: (a) in a ministerial capacity making decisions and determining and promoting policy within particular portfolios; (b) in a political capacity as [an MP] representing a constituency or particular community of interest;—Matt King: Heard it all—I've heard it all.Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: —and (c) in a personal capacity."SPEAKER: Mr King zip it.Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: So it is not as inconsistent as the member is implying and that's the reason why I do not consider it to be in the public interest.Nicola Willis: Is she concerned by reports that threats of her resignation were used by the Mayor of Wellington to leverage councillors into supporting the Let's Get Wellington Moving package and if so what steps has she taken to address those concerns?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: No and I certainly can't take responsibility for those councillors' decision to vote unanimously in favour of the package.Nicola Willis: Why won't she end the swirl of speculation about her role in Let's Get Wellington Moving by fronting up and releasing her 26 March letter?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: As I've said on numerous occasions I do not consider it to be in the public interest because it concerns political consultation. But what I can note if the member is concerned—SPEAKER: No. Order! Order! The member has answered the question. Chris Bishop: Did a member of her staff assist her in any way with writing the 26 March 2019 letter to the Hon Phil Twyford; if so were any of those staff members secondees to her office from the New Zealand Transport Agency or the Ministry of Transport?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: I can confirm that I wrote the letter; and no.Chris Bishop: When she said in question time on 7 August 2019 "we have accepted advice that we should not release the letter" who gave her that advice and when?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: We were determining that on the basis of advice that had been released by the Ombudsman which I quoted in the House at that time and advice from my staff.Hon Members: Staff?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: My political staff."