10. Question No. 10—Cyclone RecoveryCHRIS PENK (National—Kaipara ki Mahurangi) to the Minister for Cyclone RecoveryQuestion No. 10—Cyclone Recovery10. CHRIS PENK (National—Kaipara ki Mahurangi) to the Minister for Cyclone Recovery: Does he stand by all of his actions in relation to the Government's response to Cyclone Gabrielle?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister for Cyclone Recovery): Yes I do stand by my actions in relation to the response to Cyclone Gabrielle in the context of a complex and challenging environment. We've allocated close to $2 billion in support to cyclone-affected areas for everything ranging from roads and rail to sediment and debris removal small business grants housing assistance mental health support and support for our schools. I do acknowledge that this is a very challenging and difficult time for those who have been impacted and we are moving as quickly as we possibly can to provide them with support and we will continue to do so.Chris Penk: What response did the Minister give to local delivery partners tasked with distributing cyclone recovery funding when allegations of fraud were raised by them with the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) several months ago?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: MBIE stayed in contact with the local delivery partners throughout the small business grant process. Many local delivery partners had their own systems in place which in fact saw many people's applications denied because they weren't appropriate. It's the nature of a locally led response in order to get the money out the door quickly. We provided that money to those local delivery partners and then MBIE continued to support them.Chris Penk: In the light of those allegations of fraud now having translated into Serious Fraud Office prosecutions does the Minister stand by the hands-off approach taken in relation to the so-called locally led response?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Well the Serious Fraud Office of course undertakes a range of investigations that neither the member nor I actually are fully aware of or whether they even exist. What I would say is that the Serious Fraud Office working alongside local delivery partners is actually a useful thing in order to make sure that if any fraud is found they can stamp down on it. Without prejudging any investigations that may or may not be taking place the reality is that in these kinds of systems there will be people—only a few—who will attempt to defraud a system. We expect that to be cracked down on.Chris Penk: How does the Minister think that businesses under-compensated by the scheme now feel?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I don't agree with the assertion in that question.Chris Penk: Point of order. I seek the leave of the House to table Official Information Act responses in relation to possible fraud allegations that were made and advised to MBIE which are not to the best of my knowledge publicly available.SPEAKER: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? Appears to be none.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Chris Penk: Why is it that more than six months since Cyclone Gabrielle hit zero buy-out offers have been made no time line given for these there are still properties yet to be categorised and homeowners are yet to be advised how much they will be compensated to leave their unlivable properties?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: As I indicated in my primary answer this is a complex and difficult environment and it's one where this Government has taken a very clear decision that this should be a locally led recovery on the basis of the feedback we've had from local regions supported centrally. We do of course have an agreement in Hawke's Bay and they expect to be making their buy-outs within about a month or so from now. We're in negotiations with Tairāwhiti and the Auckland areas and those are progressing well. As I noted again in my primary answer this is a really difficult and challenging time for people involved. We've been supporting them in the meantime while we get to that final buy-out place. We are getting very close to that in all regions.