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Asked by
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
Member for Te Tai Hauāuru · Te Pāti Māori
Questions
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28717
How many concerns, if any, regarding actual or perceived conflicts of interest in the Fast-track process have been raised with the Prime Minister or the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet since 1 January 2024?
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28718
Has any Minister exercising powers under the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 recused themselves from any fast-track matter due to an actual, perceived, or potential conflict of interest; if so, on what date and in relation to which project?
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28719
How many conflict declarations, if any, relating to Fast-track matters resulted in a Minister taking any other management action?
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28720
How many conflict declarations, if any, relating to Fast-track matters resulted in a Minister standing aside from receiving papers?
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28721
How many conflict declarations, if any, relating to Fast-track matters resulted in a Minister recusing themselves?
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28722
How many conflict declarations, if any, relating to Fast-track matters resulted in a Minister transferring decision-making responsibility?
Show the remaining 2 questions
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28723
What number of conflicts‑of‑interest declarations, if any, made by Ministers involved individuals or entities that had contributed political donations to a governing party or to a Minister’s electoral campaign?
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28724
How many Ministers have declared an actual, perceived, or potential conflict of interest relating to any Fast-track applicant, representative, shareholder, director, consultant, lobbyist, or associated entity, since the 5 December 2023?
Answered by
Rt Hon Christopher Luxon
Member for Botany · National Party · Prime Minister
Answer
In my capacity as Prime Minister, I am the responsible minister for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC). On my behalf, the Cabinet Office supports Ministers in identifying and managing conflicts of interest that may arise in relation to their portfolios. The details regarding conflicts of interest are not generally disclosed. This has been the approach of successive administrations because it is in the public interest that the Cabinet Office can obtain and assess information about conflicts of interest and provide advice to Ministers on how to resolve them on a confidential basis. The Cabinet Office proactively releases some details of conflicts of interest, where the management action has resulted in a transfer of responsibility or a standing arrangement not to receive papers (including in the context of Fast-track Approvals Act). This is available at: https://www.dpmc.govt.nz. Hon Bishop also released some information about the management of conflicts of interest in relation to the Fast-Track Approvals Act, available at: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-releases-more-fast-track-detail. As to the number of concerns regarding actual or perceived conflicts of interest in the Fast-track process raised with me or DPMC since 1 January 2024, DPMC and I receive correspondence about a variety of matters, and this is not categorised in the way the Member has asked. To collate this information requires substantial resources and thus a cost to the taxpayers. In accordance with Speaker’s Ruling 210/6, I do not consider that this would be in the public interest.