Addressing the Question
I know Ministers only have to address the question, not answer it the way the MP asking wants, but really the answer should have some small relevance to the question. Look at what Margaret Wilson now deems acceptable. Hansard yesterday:
Hon Bill English: Given her view, stated to this House, that an interest-free loan is, in fact, a donation, does she believe that the comment made by the president of the Labour Party after Owen Glenn received his New Year’s honour, saying that Mr Glenn had not made a donation was misleading, and probably deliberately misleading?
Hon ANNETTE KING: My name is not “Mr Nasty”, like that member’s; he is always throwing insults around people. To say that people deliberately mislead is not something I am going to comment on.
Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. [Interruption]
Madam SPEAKER: Points of order are heard in silence.
Gerry Brownlee: Do you seriously consider that that was an answer to the question, or even an attempt to address it? She simply said: “My name is not ‘Mr Nasty’ ”. Perhaps she would like to tell us what her middle name is, inside the Labour Party?
Madam SPEAKER: I would say, Mr Brownlee, that that is an entirely inappropriate comment to direct to the Speaker. The Minister was asked for her opinion. She gave it. It may not be satisfactory to the member, but that is what the Standing Orders permit.
One of these new standards of Ministerial accountability that was promised. At least the PM is somewhat more forthcoming in her question:
John Key: Was she or any other Minister present at the Cabinet committee aware that Mr Glenn had loaned the Labour Party $100,000 after the 2005 election, when they made the decision to recommend him for the honour?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK: I certainly was but, of course, the honour was made irrespective of such factors.
Great – a straight answer. But look at the dodge in this question:
John Key: How did the Prime Minister become aware of Mr Glenn’s interest in the honorary consul position; was it because the matter was raised directly with her by Mr Glenn, or was his request relayed to her by Labour Party President, Mike Williams?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK: Certainly there has been no conversation by me with Mr Glenn on this matter. I am aware that he has had breakfast with Mr Peters and it has been discussed. Where in the ether it came to me I do not know.
Note she has not ruled out that it was Mike Williams, the person who collects Glenn’s cheques, who raised the issue with her. She just can not remember at all who told her about it.
Is this the same Miss Clark who was so scathing of Jenny Shipley when Mrs Shipley said she couldn’t recall something, under questioning? Her forgetfulness is so strange for someone normally renowned for an encyclopaedic recall of issues, policies and people.