New Zealand Parliamentary Debate

Sittings of the House [4411]

SITTINGS OF THE HOUSE

Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN( Leader of the House):

Pursuant to an agreement in the Business Committee yesterday, I seek leave for the sitting to be suspended for the dinner adjournment immediately after the valedictory statement from the Hon Jim Sutton.

Madam SPEAKER

: Is there any objection to that course being followed? There is no objection.

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS

Taito Phillip Field-Ingram Report

1. Dr DON BRASH( Leader of the Opposition)

to the Prime Minister: What steps has she taken to satisfy herself about the actions of members of her executive named in the Ingram report?

Rt Hon HELEN CLARK( Prime Minister):

I have read the report. I have discussed the matter with those concerned.

Dr Don Brash

: What has the Prime Minister done to clarify the real uncertainty identified by Dr Ingram as to exactly when the then Associate Minister of Immigration, Damien O'Connor, knew that the Thai national on whose behalf Taito Phillip Field was seeking a ministerial discretion was also working on Mr Field's house in Samoa?

Rt Hon HELEN CLARK

: I have seen the report in which Dr Ingram sets out what he believes to have been the most likely sequence of events. I accept his judgment on that. I also accept his judgment that the decision made by Mr O'Connor may be regarded as a justifiable exercise of that broad, discretionary statutory power he had.

Dr Don Brash

: Is the Prime Minister aware of the clear evidence presented by New Zealand Immigration Service officials, including an explicit file note and a telephone record, that Mr O'Connor knew that Mr Siriwan was working on Mr Field's house in Samoa prior to his granting him a work permit; if not, why not?

Rt Hon HELEN CLARK

: I am aware of the report and I am aware of the evidence of the officials. I am also aware of the evidence of the private secretary and I am aware that she was clear that she was unaware of the information at the time Mr O'Connor made his decision.

Dr Don Brash

: Why does the Prime Minister choose to ignore a phone log and a file note from the head of the Samoa office of the Immigration Service, both of which make it clear that Mr O'Connor knew that Mr Siriwan was working on Mr Field's house 14 days before he granted the work permit, and instead accept the bland statements of Mr O'Connor, who told a newspaper yesterday that he could not remember when he was told?

Rt Hon HELEN CLARK

: The member needs to read the report carefully, because Dr Ingram does not draw the inference that Mr O'Connor knew about that issue when he made the decision.

Dr Don Brash

: What assurances has she sought from the Hon Paul Swain and the Hon Phil Goff regarding their visit to Mr Field's house in Samoa, and has she asked them whether they discussed the status of the Thai national while they were at that house?

Rt Hon HELEN CLARK

: I discussed these matters with those Ministers back in September or October last year when the matters became public, and I am absolutely satisfied that neither of them knew the identity of anybody hanging around the house at the time. Interruption