Carter David: New Zealand Horticulture Export Authority Amendment Bill (No 2) — Second Reading Instruction to CommitteeCWH In Committee Third Reading 
Carter David: New Zealand Horticulture Export Authority Amendment Bill (No 2) — Second Reading Instruction to CommitteeCWH In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:612;Page:9614] 
Hon DAVID CARTER (National) 
: 
 It is all very well for the Minister in the chair the Hon Damien O’Connor following his elevation from the Primary Production Committee now to sit in the Committee stage and refuse to answer the valuable questions that have been raised. I take the opportunity of raising another couple of questions in the hope that the Minister will rise to his feet and earn his salary today by answering those questions. 
I was particularly concerned about the pre-information on the growers who would object to the bill. Allegedly some growers were marketing their product quite successfully in Australia—so they claimed. There were allegations that some of those growers were then on-exporting to Australia. We received one written submission from Te Awanui Huka Pak Ltd. It was a written submission only. There was not the opportunity for those people to present before the select committee but to my knowledge they were the only people who were adamantly opposed to the legislation—that was the only evidence that the select committee got. I want to make sure that the Minister informs the Committee before we vote on the third reading today that there is not a number of other people out there who for one reason or another did not have the opportunity to present to the select committee. I would appreciate that point being answered. 
The second point as today I again look through the submissions from a number of submissioners relates to the issue of quantitative restrictions which has been discussed widely in the Committee stage tonight. The other issue that was evident throughout the submissions we have seen was the significant impact that trade restrictions are having on New Zealand exporters to other countries. I happen to know that the Persimmon Industry Council was meeting with the executive of the Government yesterday trying to progress its case for assistance from the New Zealand Government to get access for its product to America. 
 We know of the difficulties we have had with our American friends over recent months. We know of the insults that have been traded. We suspect that those insults have meant that the persimmon industry of New Zealand is now suffering because of the comments made by the Rt Hon Helen Clark. I would like to take the opportunity of getting the Minister to assure the Committee that the meeting did take place yesterday between the Persimmon Industry Council and himself or his senior Minister the Hon Jim Sutton. I would certainly like to be assured today that if that meeting took place every encouragement was given by the Government that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade will work with this industry and in fact with all the horticultural industries identified through the submission process on this bill. We are passing legislation today to tidy up our side of the Act but we want to make sure that every effort has been made by the Government to make sure it is furthering the interests of New Zealand growers in gaining access to other markets particularly the United States. 
Finally I want also to seek an assurance from the Minister that he will convey those thoughts to the Rt Hon Helen Clark. I ask the Minister to please ask her to restrain herself. 
R Doug Woolerton 
: He’s too busy on his immigration portfolio. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: I did not know he had one. I thought his portfolio was racing. Has he been moved up? 
John Carter 
: A couple of places. He’s a very good Minister on immigration. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: Oh good. I know that the Minister is now keen to take a call. Following some suitable answers I think we could then move to the third reading. I do want the Minister to take the concerns of the Committee to the Prime Minister. 
John Carter 
: Now? 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: Absolutely! We could break for 5 minutes if he wants to. I want the Minister to give the Prime Minister sincere advice that it would be better if she does not know anything about foreign affairs and the damage she does to trade to please stay out of it. We were able to tell the Persimmon Industry Council that we sympathise with the representations it made to the National Party yesterday. We do sympathise with the position it found itself in. It is comments that are made perhaps in the heat of the moment by a Prime Minister who should know better that have on-going ramifications that make it very very difficult for growers of our produce in seeking access to markets particularly the United States markets. I look for that assurance now as the Minister is about to rise to his feet.