Yates Dianne: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Yates Dianne: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:629;Page:1135] 
1. DIANNE YATES (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control 
: Has he received any reports on possible changes to New Zealand’s nuclear-free policy? 
Hon PHIL GOFF (Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control) 
: 
 I have seen reports on the debate during the election campaign on whether New Zealand’s nuclear-free policy should be abandoned but the latest report that I have read is dated last Wednesday and was filed in Taupo. It suggested that the election policy of holding a referendum on the entry of nuclear ships to New Zealand promoted by National would be dropped by that party and that the party would instead adopt Labour’s policy. The report said that this move was led by Mr McCully and was an admission by National that its stance in the last election was—and I quote from the report—“confused and turned off potential voters”. 
Dianne Yates 
: Subsequent to that report has the Minister received any other reports on the issue; if so what further information is disclosed by those reports? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: Yes I have received further reports. Sadly they disclose that Mr McCully’s views on this issue were not unanimously supported by his colleagues and that his bench mate Dr Lockwood Smith for example has apparently threatened to resign from Parliament if the policy was changed. It would seem that splits and divisions within the National Party on this issue will prevent National ever having a coherent and credible stand on it and that New Zealand’s nuclear-free status would therefore still be under threat from any future National Government. [ 
Interruption 
] Let Dr Smith deny it. 
Dianne Yates 
: If the first report referred to by the Minister today is correct would he not welcome the fact that this would represent near unanimity in the House in support of New Zealand remaining nuclear-free? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: With the exception of the ACT party that is right. I very much welcome that but regrettably there is a credibility problem. At the time when National’s policy was still actually in favour of a nuclear-free New Zealand in public Dr Brash and Dr Lockwood Smith were promising privately that the policy would be gone by lunchtime. I have to say that there have been so many reversals and flip-flops in National’s policy that nothing they say on this issue now will actually have any public credibility. 
Hon Murray McCully 
: Does the Minister share the view expressed publicly by his colleague the Minister of Foreign Affairs that New Zealand would benefit from an improved relationship with the United States; if so why is he yet again playing cheap political gains rather than focusing on the advancement of New Zealand’s interests in a bipartisan way in an improved relationship with the most powerful country in the world? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: The only thing cheap about this issue was the cheapness of the National Party which said one thing in public and another thing privately to visiting congressmen. That was cheap that was deceitful and the National Party now recognises the huge damage that it has done to itself leastwise the member does. I give him credit for that but sadly his benchmate and a number of others on those benches have a totally different view but I wish him well in trying to persuade his colleagues to his point of view. 
Keith Locke 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I would like you to consider whether the proceedings under this question would have gone more speedily and with more clarification if we had a more relaxed dress standard in this House and Dr Brash and Mr McCully had been able to wear the T-shirts I presented to them in the House yesterday and possibly Dr Lockwood Smith too. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I thank the member. Would he please be seated. The member has made his point. We will now return to questions. 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: I seek the leave of the House to table this report which states that National is considering totally aligning its antinuclear policy with Labour admitting that the party stance on the issue was confused and turned off potential voters. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Keith Locke 
: I seek the leave of the House to table a copy of the T-shirt I presented to Dr Brash and Mr McCully. I think I gave them an XL size but this would fit Mr Tisch—it is a smaller size. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table one or many T-shirts. Is there any objection? There is objection.