10. Transport, Minister—Statements

[Sitting date: 29 July 2014. Volume:700;Page:9. Text is subject to correction.]

10. PHIL TWYFORD (Labour - Te Atatū) to the Minister of Transport : Does he stand by all his statements?

Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Minister of Transport): Yes, in so much as they are accurately reported.

Phil Twyford : Does he stand by his statement “I unreservedly apologise to those people who felt, and were, compr omised by my actions.”; if so, has he apologised in writing to all those workers who were compromised by his actions last week? If so, when; if not, why not?

Hon GERRY BROWNLEE : I most certainly stand by that statement. I sent a note to the airport company to that effect. If there are others, then I will certainly get to them.

Phil Twyford : Outside of the current investigation, is this the first and only time he has breached airport security or operating procedure; if not, when else has he done so?

Hon GERRY BROWNLEE : Yes, it is.

Phil Twyford : Has he been interviewed as part of the Civil Aviation Authority investigation into his security breach; if not, when will he be interviewed, when will the official version of events be made public, and can he reassure the House that no Ministry of Transport officials will be involved in the investigation into his security breach?

Hon GERRY BROWNLEE : I have not been interviewed at this point, and those other matters are all for the investigators.

Phil Twyford : Why has he not followed standard Cabinet procedure and resigned while he is under investigation by his own agency?

Hon GERRY BROWNLEE : I did tender a resignation. A decision was made about that. I have relinquished responsibility for the Civil Aviation Authority. The member misleads the House by saying that there is any further requirement in the Cabinet Manual.

Rt Hon John Key : Has the Minister seen any reports about whether the previous Prime Minister resigned when she was under investigation for fraud?

Hon GERRY BROWNLEE : Mr Speaker—[Interruption]

Mr SPEAKER : Order! The member will resume his seat. There is no transport ministerial responsibility for that. [Interruption] Order! The question is out of order. There is no ministerial responsibility.

Hon GERRY BROWNLEE : There is no ministerial responsibility? Well, can I not—

Mr SPEAKER : Is this a point of order?

Hon GERRY BROWNLEE : I was asked whether I had seen reports.

Mr SPEAKER : I do not see that a report would be part of the member’s ministerial responsibility. [Interruption ] Order!

Rt Hon Winston Peters : I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. It is not often in this House that you hear someone accusing a former Prime Minister of fraud. It is a most serious allegation, and I thought you would have done something to ask him to apologise for it. Either make out the case or apologise.

Mr SPEAKER : Order! There is no member here who I think would be offended by that particular remark—

Rt Hon Winston Peters : Well, I would.

Mr SPEAKER : Well, if the Rt Hon Winston Peters is saying that he was offended by that remark, then I will ask the Prime Minister to withdraw that remark. [Interruption ] Order! The member has said he is offended; that surprises me. He has said he is offended. I am asking the Prime—[Interruption ] Order! I ask the Prime Minister to withdraw that remark.

Rt Hon John Key : I withdraw.

Mr SPEAKER : Thank you.

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