Turei Metiria: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeTurei Metiria: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 14 May 2013. Volume:690;Page:9841. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]4.METIRIA TUREI (Co-Leader—Green)to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement in relation to the SkyCity Convention Centre “it’s a day of celebration actually for Aucklanders and for New Zealand”?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister):Yes.Metiria Turei: When did he or other Ministers of his Government or officials first discuss with Skycity guarantees of compensation in the event of future regulatory change?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Those negotiations were held by the office of Minister Steven Joyce. I do not have those details. You will need to put down questions to his office.Metiria Turei: Under the agreement does his Government intend to dissuade New Zealanders in 20 or even 30 years’ time from changing gambling laws to provide stronger public health protections if those laws would impinge on Skycity’s profits?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: No but what is clear is that Skycity is putting on the table around $400 million to build a convention centre and what is quite fair is that while it honours its obligations we honour our obligations. That is not unusual. As a Government we came into office and inherited a contract that said that the Government of the day would give to the America’s Cup whatever the number was—$27-odd million—and we honoured that. It was $35 million or $37 million and we honoured that deal.Metiria Turei: Under the agreement what remedies could Skycity seek from a future Government if New Zealanders ask that Government to reduce the value of banknotes that casino pokie machines can take?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: The member is asking for a legal opinion and would need to look at the contract that will ultimately be signed by the two parties.Metiria Turei: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. This is not a question that asks for a legal opinion. The Prime Minister has signed a heads of agreement that guarantees compensation. He is able to give an indication of the remedies that are expected under that agreement in the negotiations. This is not asking for a legal opinion—Mr SPEAKER: Order! I also accept on this occasion the Prime Minister’s answer when he interpreted your question as him saying that he would then be required to give a legal interpretation of a contract that is at some stage to be signed with Skycity.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It will become very apparent to you in this line of questioning that the first supplementary question from my colleague from the Green Party got an answer to go and ask Steven Joyce. Except in question No. 1 when he was asked that very question he said he mentioned the 2011 campaign. If the Prime Minister can get up and say any old thing in this House then question time is a total waste of time.Mr SPEAKER: Does the member have further supplementary questions?Metiria Turei: Is the Prime Minister now telling the House and the New Zealand public that he does not know the implications of the heads of agreement that he is signing with the Skycity convention centre that provides for it a guarantee of compensation for loss of profits for 35 years if there are regulatory changes? He does not know what that means—is that what he is saying?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: What I am saying is that there is an expectation that both parties will honour their obligations for the next 35 years but there will be a legal contract signed between the parties and that contract has not been formed or signed yet.Metiria Turei: Can the Prime Minister confirm then given that he has signed this agreement that under the agreement if New Zealanders do want to have stronger protections to prevent gambling harm in the future they could be liable to pay to Skycity up to $400 million for the privilege to make public health law?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Firstly it is important that the member understand I did not sign the heads of agreement; they were signed on behalf of the Government by I think Mr Joyce; secondly the answer to the last bit is no.Metiria Turei: Can the Prime Minister confirm that the agreement that his Government has entered into with Skycity means that if New Zealanders in the future want stronger protections to prevent gambling harm they could be liable to have to pay to Skycity up to $400 million for the privilege to make public health law?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: The member is quite incorrect. The specifics around compensation are related specifically around the deal and the issues that were listed yesterday not on the point the member is making.Metiria Turei: Given that increased gambling will have a social and financial cost and that New Zealanders may under this deal have to pay Skycity up to $400 million if they want to improve gambling laws why not simply be transparent and frankly ethical and just pay for the convention centre which everybody wants and which is in a place where everybody can use it but which is not attached to a dirty casino deal?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: A couple of things: firstly the premise that the member’s question is based on is incorrect; secondly if we want to get into dirty and inaccurate deals then this is a member who presents 100000 signatures that are bogus. I suppose it was Clint who told her to do that as well was it?