10. Question No. 10—Oceans and FisheriesSTEVE ABEL (Green) to the Minister for Oceans and FisheriesQuestion No. 10—Oceans and Fisheries10. STEVE ABEL (Green) to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: Does he stand by all his statements and actions?Hon SHANE JONES (Minister for Oceans and Fisheries): Āe.Steve Abel: Does he stand by his statements that the fishing industry deserve respect" and that he would "stand up for people who regard fisheries as part of their birthright" and does he therefore share the opposition of fishers to seabed mining that totally destroys the seabed with flow-on impacts to fisheries?Hon SHANE JONES: I've gone from the champion of the provinces to the leader the leading politician who is going to ensure that the fishing industry is not demonised or driven out of existence by stupid Green policies.Steve Abel: I have a point of order on that response please.SPEAKER: Point of order Steve Abel.Steve Abel: The question was quite specifically about whether he shared the opposition of fishers to seabed mining that totally destroys the seabed with flow-on impacts to fisheries. SPEAKER: Yes I think have another crack at that.Hon SHANE JONES: Point of order. That question had multiple limbs and I responded to one of those limbs relating to my status as the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries. I repeat again: the answer that I've given adequately covered one of the limbs of what was an octopus-like question.Steve Abel: When meeting with mining lobbyists Straterra on 23 January on the resources and associate energy portfolio did he in his capacity as fisheries Minister communicate the longstanding opposition of the fishing industry to seabed mining?Hon Judith Collins: You can't have questions across portfolios.Rt Hon Winston Peters: You can't do that. SPEAKER: Yes that's right. Just try again to get it inside the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries portfolio.Steve Abel: OK. [Interruption]SPEAKER: Just hang on—we don't talk while there's a question being asked or about to be.Steve Abel: Does the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries share the opposition of fishers to seabed mining that totally destroys the seabed with flow-on impacts to fisheries?Hon SHANE JONES: There are some apocryphal unbounded dangerous assertions in that question. The processes that are in play pertaining to applicants seeking to gain access to the half a trillion dollars' worth of wealth on the bed of the sea are entitled to go through that process. That is shared space enjoyed also by quota owners.Steve Abel: Point of order Mr Speaker. I don't believe he answered the question which was specifically about whether he shared the opposition of the fishing industry to seabed mining.SPEAKER: Well look I think it is one of those that I spoke of earlier. If you have a look at a Speaker's Ruling I'm leaning heavily on today—it's 207(2). I think in consideration of that the Minister has addressed the question. Ask another supplementary.Steve Abel: Thank you Mr Speaker. In the decision to cancel progress of the Kermadec sanctuary did he consult with interested and impacted iwis such as Ngāti Kuri before making this decision?Hon SHANE JONES: The decision that the member refers to is a decision of the Cabinet. In terms of talking to the associated iwi it may involve me talking to myself. That is a decision endorsed by the entirety of the Cabinet and it reflects the fact that nothing in the Kermadecs will change as a consequence of the overdue decision today whether it's noddies on land or pufferfish at the sea. SPEAKER: We move now to question No. 11—Steve Abel: Point of order. I think I have one more supplementary Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: Oh my apologies sorry. I thought your leaning back was satisfaction with the answer.Steve Abel: I may have been in amazement. But I do have a supplementary please. SPEAKER: Steve Abel.Steve Abel: Does he support the view of the International Seabed Authority that it strongly recommends a pause on seabed mining until there is a clear understanding of the impacts of the industry—that the industry may have on the marine environment its living resources and those dependent on them?Hon SHANE JONES: Obviously within our domestic jurisdiction there are opportunities to excavate extract and take rare earth seabed minerals necessary for the climate change journey. There is also the New Zealand involvement in a working group under the UN dealing with high seas international waters mining. The latter does not drive the former."