8. Question No. 7—Foreign AffairsHon TODD McCLAY (National—Rotorua) to the Minister of Foreign AffairsQuestion No. 7—Foreign Affairs8. Hon TODD McCLAY (National—Rotorua) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Does he stand by all his statements on the United Nations Global Compact for Migration?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Minister of Foreign Affairs): Yes.Hon Todd McClay: Has Cabinet decided to commit New Zealand to the United Nations global compact for migration to be signed in Morocco next week?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The answer is no at this time because we are dealing with a compact process that was signed up to by the then National Party on 19 December 2016—committed New Zealand to signing the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants and to have the process of time going forward to this time in 2018. This is the document the National Party signed up to in a resolution and it was signed in New York unanimously—a process that Murray McCully my predecessor but one signed this country up to.Hon Todd McClay: Is he aware that the agreement that has been negotiated by his Government makes no distinction between legal and illegal migration and calls for restrictions on freedom of speech and the media?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The answer is that I've studied very carefully those allegations that have been made by some countries around the world and some people in a worldwide campaign. Both those allegations are demonstrably false.Hon Todd McClay: Does he agree with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters who said this week that the problem with agreements like this is that non-binding sometimes becomes binding and if so why is his Government still considering signing New Zealand up to this UN agreement?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The answer to that is that the wisdom of sound decision-making is that if there are eight facets to a decision then each one has to be examined. The then answer by the Minister was to say that all eight aspects would be looked at and they have been looked at and what has been alarming though is that a process that the National Party was once for they're now against. Clayton Mitchell: Has the Minister seen any statements which say that the UN compact could restrict the ability of future Governments to set immigration and foreign policy? Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The answer to that is yes there are two statements in circulation. The National Party issued a statement which says—to quote them—the Compact could restrict the ability of future governments to set immigration … policy" and then there is the text of the compact. I draw the House and the National Party to this text because it's apparent that they have not read this document. Hon Todd McClay: Is he aware that Australia the US Israel Austria Poland the Czech Republic Bulgaria Hungary and Slovakia have all said that they will not sign the agreement citing concerns over sovereignty and if so why is the Government still considering giving the UN a say over New Zealand immigration policy? Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: It begs the question that if that was the concern of the member and the Opposition why did they in September of 2016 sign us up to it? Hon Todd McClay: Will the Government release all advice it has received on the UN migration compact negotiated by his Government and allow Parliament to vote on this agreement before committing New Zealand to it next week? Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Can I say that when the previous Government in September 2016 at the General Assembly signed up to a resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 19 September unanimously no such requirement for a reference to the House was then made. The second thing of course is that because it's not legally binding why would such a democratic decision be made in this House and if it was required why didn't they insist upon it back then in 2016? Hon Todd McClay: When the Minister says that it's non-binding is he also aware that the Paris Agreement on climate change is non-binding—an agreement that is having an effect upon New Zealand legislation and decisions made by his Government? Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The reality of course is that these are two utterly different subjects—utterly different subjects. One is one of the greatest issues of our age recognised internationally and it's an issue that we need to have surely if possible bipartisan support from reasonable sane sound politicians. There used to be bipartisanship on foreign policy and indeed on this policy as well. The then Opposition did not protest back in September 2016 about what National was doing but now that the shoe's on the other foot so to speak they've done a double take and they want to get out."