McCully Murray: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Question Time Questions to Members 
McCully Murray: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Question Time Questions to Members 
[Volume:607;Page:4498] 
11.  
Hon MURRAY MCCULLY (NZ National—East Coast Bays) 
 to the  
Minister of Internal Affairs 
: Will he be tabling any supplementary order papers outlining changes to the Responsible Gambling Bill; if so what assurances can he give that there will be full consultation with sporting bodies in relation to any concerns they may have? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister of Education) 
 on behalf of the 
 Minister of Internal Affairs 
: The Minister advises that no such decision has yet been made. 
Hon Murray McCully 
: Is the Minister aware that a group of national sporting organisations has held a press conference in Auckland today to voice its grave concerns about the possible impact of mooted changes to the Responsible Gambling Bill and will the Minister take this opportunity to give an assurance that no such changes will proceed without full and proper consultation with those groups? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I not sure whether the Minister of Internal Affairs is aware of the press conference that was held but the Minister for Sport and Recreation is aware of it. Apparently it was slightly disrupted by a woman regarded as somewhat deranged by the name of Collins who I understand is a member of this House. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That comment about a member of this House is out of order. The member will stand withdraw and apologise. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I withdraw and apologise. 
Hon Roger Sowry 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Now that the Minister has got over that can we please have an answer to the question? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Yes I think the Minister can address the question. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Yes I am aware of what has been said. Much of what was said at the conference was nonsense and was fed to people by the National Party. 
Jill Pettis 
: Can the Minister please outline to the House what the Responsible Gambling Bill does to ensure that the profits from gambling actually benefit the community? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: The bill does a number of things that are quite important. To start with it requires the publishing of the criteria used to consider applications for those grants advertising the fact that they are available advertising where to obtain applications who will consider them and the criteria for that and advertising the unsuccessful applications for grants as well as the successful applications. The bill has provisions to make sure that there are no conflicts of interest. We have seen what in many countries would be regarded as corruption in this area and I am shocked that National Party members appear to be supporting that. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I have taken a moment to reflect on the answer the Minister gave. It would appear to me that if one was to read  
Hansard  
one would find that the Minister has alleged that a substantial number of members on the Opposition side of the House are engaged in corruption. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Yes I was reflecting on the answer too. The comment— 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I did not. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Well if the Minister gives us an assurance he did not that is the end of the matter. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Not at all Mr Speaker. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Well if the member said that his word is accepted. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I would ask you to take a look at the  
Hansard 
 when it is available later today and to perhaps rule then as to whether the wording used by the Minister was appropriate. To suggest that members on this side of the House are supporting corruption seems to me to be a widespread allegation for which he should apologise. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I listened to the answer that was given and I think when the Minister examines the  
Hansard 
 he will reflect on the fact that perhaps that interpretation can be taken from it. I want him to withdraw and apologise for it. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I want to make it clear to the House that what I indicated was there was a system that was corrupt and members opposite supported it. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No that is not correct. I want the member now to stand withdraw and apologise. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I withdraw and apologise. 
Sue Bradford 
: Is the Minister aware of an email from the general manager of the Lion Foundation Mark Forshaw to the  
National Business Review 
 dated 4 March last year in which he says that because the  
National Business Review  
has been exposing corruption among the pokie trusts he will give no more grants to any organisation associated with the  
National Business Review 
 and does he not agree that this email is a good illustration of why the Responsible Gambling Bill must be amended so that the distribution of pokie profits is carried out through a publicly accountable system and not through the privatised trusts as currently pertains? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: No I am not aware of the email but I am aware of widespread practices that result in clubs being required to buy liquor from agents in order to get grants. I am aware of cases where people have been asked for under-the-table payments. There is widespread corruption and I do not understand why any member of this House would support a system that condones and encourages it. 
Hon Murray McCully 
: Given the reported statement of the Green spokesperson that the gambling proceeds currently allocated to sporting groups should be redirected to beneficiary advocates and the reported statement of the Prime Minister that current funding arrangements are “too blokey” can the Minister understand that there might be some basis for the concerns at the press conference in Auckland today and will the Minister ensure that the reasonable concerns of those national sporting bodies are listened to before any legislation is proceeded with in the House? 
Sue Bradford 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. As the Green spokesperson on gambling that the member is referring to I say I did not make any such statement. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: He did not mention the member. He mentioned a Green spokesperson. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: This is one occasion when I am pleased to be answering a question on behalf of the Minister of Internal Affairs. I am sure he will stand strong on this issue. He will act in an appropriate way and he will inform all people who have opinions of the proper thing to do. 
Sue Bradford 
: I seek leave to table an email from Mark Forshaw of the Lion Foundation to the  
National Business Review 
 last year assuring the  
National Business Review  
that any charity associated with it would be declined funding. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.