committee is the most appropriate
and I understand the committee will receive a briefing on this
very report later this month. Question
No. 12
report later this month. Question
My
My question is to the Associate
Associate Minister for State
On what date did Landcorp send
send its submission to the Tax Working Group
and was it invited to do so
by the Tax Working
Group or one
by the Tax Working Group
Coup
Coup The
Coup The Hon Shane Jones. Mr Speaker, I'm
Speaker, I'm advised Landcorp sent its submission to the Tax Working
Group on 31 May 2018. I'm
also advised it was not invited to do
so
Group's public request for submissions.
Group's public request for
anyone in Government ask Landcorp to make this late submission
to the Tax Working
make this late submission to the Tax
forbearance, I'm going to read out the answer. On 1 November,
the acting Parnu financial controller,
the head of environment, and
Mr Peter Fraser tend attended
an
Treasury to discuss environmental taxes feedback from the Tax
Working Group. Point of order, Mr
Speaker. I think the member might be able
to express it better than
I can, but I know where he's heading. My
question hasn't been answered. Maybe the
member could repeat it, just so it's
clear. Did anyone in the Government
ask Landcorp to make a late
submission to the Tax Working
ask Landcorp to make a late
I have described a meeting which is publicly declared between arguably
the most senior
of the Government's
meeting were members of the Landcorp team. At that meeting, matters were
discussed pertaining
discussed pertaining to environmental taxes for the
Tax Working Group. I'm
not advised that a politician had invited
them to do so. And there's just
one further thing so the question is
which they attended. Within such meetings, obviously, there is to
and fro, Mr Speaker, of the content of
environmental taxes. That is
not to be construed and is not consistent
with a direct invitation to do so.
Thank you. When was the Minister
first aware that the SOE for which
he is responsible is
advocating for a nitrogen tax, a water tax,
and a capital
a nitrogen tax, a water tax, and a
shall repeat what the Deputy PM said. Ours is, in many
respects, a freedom government. Along with
a host of our Government entities,
this SOE made a submission. I
was made aware of that submission when
questioned about it by the media.
The Hon Nathan Guy. Why
did Landcorp make a submission that was one month
after the closing date supporting
a nitrogen fertiliser tax, a
water tax, and not being opposed to
a
surprise, Mr Speaker, to the other side of the House, but we
observe our roles in a governance capacity.
And then we appoint, sir, a board and, indeed, we have appointed a
fine New Zealander today, Dr
Warren Parker, who without a doubt
will address any governance challenges
in that regard. We do not bully. We
do not take for granted
our responsibilities. And we allow the
board of governors to function in a unified fashion. They have made,
sir, their submission. It is now a
matter of public record. But it is
only one of a host of submissions.
only one of a host of submissions. Did the board of Landcorp
sign off the submission to the Tax Working
Group, or did the Chief Executive,
Steve Carden, act on his own
CEO may have been the case under the regime on the other side of the
..but I am advised, sir, that the Executive
..but I am advised, sir, that the
of directors were aware of the contribution that has been made.
That concludes oral questions. A point of order,
the Rt Hon David Carter. Mr Speaker, I raise this
point of order trying to
be constructive. But the
events of question time today
cause me to reflect on the frustration
that is building amongst the Opposition. Can
I just ask you to carefully look at
the questions that have
been framed and asked this week,
and the answers that have been
and asked this week, and the answers