1. Todd Barclay—Southland Electorate Office Allegations Police InvestigationJAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green) to the Minister of PoliceWEDNESDAY 21 JUNE 2017Mr Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.Prayers.ORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSTodd Barclay—Southland Electorate Office Allegations Police Investigation1. JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green) to the Minister of Police: Has she or the former Minister of Police been briefed by Police about any political interference or obstruction of justice in the Police investigation into allegations that MP Todd Barclay recorded a private conversation at his electorate office; if so when?Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister of Police): No and I have spoken to the immediate former Minister of Police and she had no briefings either.James Shaw: Have police briefed her about any instances where Bill English discouraged police from publicly releasing his statement or text messages regarding the allegations against Todd Barclay?Hon PAULA BENNETT: No and the statutory independence of the Commissioner of Police from Ministers is clearly laid out in section 2 of the Policing Act 2008—so no.James Shaw: Does she agree that if they were asked to do so by the then Deputy Prime Minister Bill English police would have had little choice other than to withhold the statement?Hon PAULA BENNETT: I do not deal with hypothetical or speculative questions like that. At the end of the day the police commissioner is independent and I respect that.James Shaw: Can she explain why police did not serve Todd Barclay with a search warrant after Bill English told police that he knew that Todd Barclay had recorded his staff?Mr SPEAKER: In so far as there may be ministerial responsibility the Hon Paula Bennett.Hon PAULA BENNETT: No I cannot because I have no responsibility for that whatsoever.James Shaw: Can she explain why police decided that there was not sufficient evidence to issue a search warrant for a National MP—Todd Barclay—when he recorded his staff members' conversations but when journalist Bradley Ambrose recorded former Prime Minister John Key's conversation police chose to raid the offices of TVNZ TV3 and the Herald on Sunday?Hon Simon Bridges: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I think there is a point where a Minister clearly has absolutely no responsibility and that is I would submit this question right now. It is entirely out of order.Mr SPEAKER: No. I have listened to the question and the essence of the question to me is that as Minister of Police can she explain why the police did not take a particular course of action. To me that is a legitimate question to ask the Minister. It is a relatively easy one for the Minister to answer.Hon PAULA BENNETT: No because the police commissioner and the police have statutory independence and a Minister—it is not appropriate for them to be involved.James Shaw: Has she or any other Minister including Bill English had conversations with police about allegations that a National Party board member politically interfered by threatening Glenys Dickson's family over her complaints against Todd Barclay?Hon PAULA BENNETT: I can only speak in my capacity as the Minister of Police and no.James Shaw: Has she or any other Minister including Bill English discouraged police from investigating the allegations that a National Party board member threatened Glenys Dickson and encouraged her to drop the complaint against Todd Barclay?Hon PAULA BENNETT: As the Minister of Police—the police have statutory independence. I know of no such incident so no.James Shaw: Does she expect New Zealanders to believe that police have not been influenced in their investigations by senior National Party figures including the now Prime Minister Bill English who would rather the whole affair just went away?Hon PAULA BENNETT: Yes I do because the police are independent and the statutory independence of the police commissioner from Ministers is clearly laid out in section 2 of the Policing Act 2008. I kind of find it offensive to police his insinuations.