Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:608;Page:5310] 
1.  
RODNEY HIDE (ACT NZ) 
 to the  
Chairperson of the Primary Production Committee 
: How many meetings has the committee had to hear evidence in its inquiry into the administration and management of New Zealand’s scampi fishery? 
Hon DAVID CARTER (Chairperson of the Primary Production Committee) 
: 
 To date the committee has held 14 meetings as it considers the work involved in the scampi inquiry. 
Rodney Hide 
: Has the chairperson included in his count the meetings that Mr Ian Ewen-Street says the lawyer for Barine Developments has had with him with Mr Phil Heatley with Mr David Carter— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! 
Rodney Hide 
: —and with Mr Damien O’Connor “just in a lobbying sense” or— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! 
Rodney Hide 
: —are these meetings where evidence is given and allegations made— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I told the member to sit down. Those are not select committee meetings. The chairman has no responsibility for those meetings. 
Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. With due respect that is precisely the point I am trying to make. I am asking the chairperson whether he is counting those as meetings. With the greatest respect I think that is for the chairperson and the Primary Production Committee to answer rather than the Speaker of this House. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I will hear Mr Carter. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: Speaking to the point of order I point out that Mr Hide alleges that I have met the solicitor. I have on no occasion met with Sue Grey outside of the select committee. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: All I can say is that the chairperson can be asked only about actual meetings of the select committee. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I have to raise it now otherwise I will be ruled out saying it later. I raised this matter with you as a point of order on Thursday. You told us that you would come back with a ruling. What I asked then was whether there is any obligation on a member of Parliament to give an explanation to the House. I think this is important. I think now there is an obligation because Mr Ewen-Street is reported in all the newspapers as saying and I have read it that Mr Carter the chairman of the committee has been holding meetings with the solicitor for one of the parties to the scampi inquiry. We now hear from the chairman that that statement is not true. I think we are owed an explanation from Mr Ewen-Street. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I told the member and I recall my exact words that I would have a look at the matter. I have had a look at the matter and I have nothing further to report because of course the “anything” in that regard is for the member himself—it is not for this House. If the member wants to make a statement he can. It is his option and his option alone. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. We now have the very serious situation of a member giving explanations in the media that are being contradicted by the chairman of the committee. I think that places that member in a very strong position. He should come to the House and give us a proper explanation rather than using the Sunday media to say that everyone else is doing it too. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I have nothing further to add to my previous ruling. The member is not required to do that. 
Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: This is a new point of order? 
Rodney Hide 
: Yes. I did not get to finish my question. The chairperson with your guidance was happy to rule on that. I am left in a bit of a quandary as to where my hanging question is at. I did not get to finish it. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member had better finish the question. I will give him another question after Mr Peters. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Does the chairman understand that Mr Hide’s question is not an allegation in respect of his comments as chairman but rather that Mr Ewen-Street had made the comment that everybody on the committee seems to have been briefed by the solicitor excepting the New Zealand First member namely myself—a position for which I am very very grateful? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Entertaining though that might be that is not a question for the chairman of the committee to answer. 
Rodney Hide 
: In the light of the chairperson’s answer has he sought an assurance that Mr Heatley and Mr Damien O’Connor also have not been having briefings outside the committee process from Barine Developments’ lawyer? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No. That has nothing to do with the committee chairman. 
John Carter 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. There was an implication in that question that I think could lead to disorder. I wonder whether the member might consider withdrawing and apologising. I took exception to that question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Mr Carter took exception to that question. I wonder whether the member could assure the House that he meant no improper implication in his question. 
Rodney Hide 
: Absolutely! I am sorry. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member has said “absolutely”. I accept his word. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I understand completely the point Mr Carter is making but it seems to me that he is in the same position as other MPs. We have a position where a member of Parliament has been reported widely in the media as saying that other MPs—and I am not suggesting any sexual impropriety—[ 
Interruption 
] No I am not; I say that as it might suggest that. What I am saying is that that member is saying about a very important inquiry that involves a heck of a lot of money—$100 million—that there are other MPs who have been receiving these briefings from counsel for one of the parties. We can tell from Mr Carter’s reaction that he thinks that is wrong but really it should be for those MPs to get up and tell us like Mr Peters has done that they have not had such a briefing. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No that is not correct and I think the member knows that. 
Rodney Hide 
: To try to help clear up any suggestion I seek leave to table the  
New Zealand Herald 
 of 2 May. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.