Jones Shane: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Jones Shane: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:671;Page:17673] 
11. 
Hon SHANE JONES (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture 
: Does he still have no major concerns about the way foreign boats were used by New Zealand companies as the  
Nelson Mail 
 reports he said last year? 
Hon PHIL HEATLEY (Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture) 
: 
 As Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture I have concerns if any vessel foreign or otherwise misreports its catch is not registered breaches environmental standards refuses to comply with requirements for observer coverage or breaches any other obligations under the Fisheries Act. 
Hon Shane Jones 
: Does he believe that foreign crews receiving wages reportedly as low as $238 per month is a major concern; if not why not? 
Hon PHIL HEATLEY 
: That is a matter for the Minister of Labour but I am happy to comment. In the dying days of the previous Government Labour reset the rules on foreign fishing crews’ wages and working conditions and it seemed to be happy back then. I would be interested if the member could forward information to this Government if things have changed. 
Hon Shane Jones 
: What specific improvements will he be advocating to ensure that foreign crews are adequately recompensed or does he not care that this activity is besmirching the reputation of a major New Zealand industry? 
Hon PHIL HEATLEY 
: As I said that is a matter for the Minister of Labour but it would be fair to say that the previous Government in its last dying days looked at fisheries regulations vessel safety crew welfare and work visas. Labour came up with some changes at that time; I do not know why it did not use that chance only 3 years ago if it was so serious about this issue. 
Hon Damien O’Connor 
: How do allegations of slavery in New Zealand’s so-called sustainable fishing industry improve New Zealand’s image in our main export markets? 
Hon PHIL HEATLEY 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. We have some vaguely intelligent people on the other side of the House who have already— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member cannot use a point of order to make a negative comment about any other member of this House. I will allow him to make his point of order in appropriate terms. 
Hon PHIL HEATLEY 
: I have already answered two questions that were out of order because I am not the Minister of Labour. I pointed that out but I gave the member the benefit of the doubt and answered the questions. I really think a third case where I am asked to address a question that should be asked of another Minister is entirely out of order. 
Hon Damien O’Connor 
: My question was quite specific. I asked what the accusations of slavery in the so-called sustainable fishing industry did to our image offshore. That is a simple question for the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I think I have heard sufficient on the matter. We will not take further time on it. I think the Minister is correct in saying that I could in fact have ruled out the questions as being more appropriately directed to the Minister of Labour but I did not want to deprive the Minister of a bit of licence to have greater freedom in answering a question. I did not want to be a spoilsport. When members ask questions that are more appropriately another Minister’s responsibility they risk receiving answers that they will not like. Today I have been pretty supportive of members when they have complained about answers given but when members ask questions that are perhaps more appropriately directed elsewhere they risk receiving answers they will not like. I think the Hon Damien O’Connor should have the right to ask his question. It relates to the fishing industry but how tightly directed it is to the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture will determine how precisely the Minister has to answer it. 
Hon Damien O’Connor 
: How do allegations of slavery in the so-called sustainable New Zealand fisheries affect our image in our international export markets for fish? 
Hon PHIL HEATLEY 
: I can say that if it relates to a misreporting of catch the question should be addressed to me. If vessels are not registered it should be directed to me. If environmental standards are breached it should be directed to me. In terms of observer coverage please put the question to me. If it is a matter of slavery in New Zealand or in New Zealand waters the member should please put the question to the Minister of Labour. 
Hon Damien O’Connor 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I was on the select committee that amended the Fisheries Act to include legal obligations to pay New Zealand rates of pay. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member will resume his seat. The member asked his question and the Minister answered it. There was a definite answer to the question and the member cannot litigate the answer by way of a point of order. He can litigate it by way of further supplementary questions. He is perfectly entitled to do that. If he does not like the answer and feels strongly enough about it he can put a question on tomorrow’s Order Paper but he cannot litigate the question by way of a point of order. 
Darien Fenton 
: Will his Government support an inquiry into the New Zealand fishing industry’s relationship with foreign fishing companies foreign crewing of joint ventures and chartered New Zealand fishing vessels and its effect on sustainable fishing employment and the relevant communities within New Zealand as set out in the petition of Neville Donaldson which was presented to the House on 14 February and which is before the Primary Production Committee? 
Hon PHIL HEATLEY 
: The petition went before the Parliament. Now that it is before the Primary Production Committee it is a matter for the select committee and Parliament. 
Hon Shane Jones 
: Given the Minister’s answer about having no major concerns can he confirm to the House whether he has received word of major concerns from the fishing industry via Peter Talley and did he answer those in such a glib fashion on that occasion? 
Hon PHIL HEATLEY 
: I have had correspondence on this matter from a range of people over an extended period not least of all when the previous Government was in power and made some changes. 
Rahui Katene 
: Has this Government conducted an inquiry into the fishing industry’s relationship with foreign fishing companies foreign crewing of joint ventures and chartered and New Zealand fishing vessels and its effect on sustainable fishing practices employment and the relevant communities within Aotearoa; if not why not? 
Hon PHIL HEATLEY 
: No. Under the previous Government in its last days Ministers did some work with various departments including the Department of Labour Maritime New Zealand the Ministry of Fisheries and the Department of Immigration. They looked at those matters they made some changes and they felt the changes they made were entirely adequate. They may have changed their minds now. The matter is now before the Primary Production Committee and I am interested in seeing the results of that inquiry.