9574 (2026). Camilla Belich to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

9574 (2026). Camilla Belich to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: What external legal costs, if any, were incurred by any department or entity for which the Minister is responsible in each financial year since 2020/21, broken down by department or entity and by the nature of the legal work (litigation, commercial advice, employment matters, Treaty matters, or other)?

Hon Scott Simpson: I am responsible for six Crown entities: Accreditation Council, Commerce Commission, External Reporting Board, Financial Markets Authority, Retirement Commission and Takeovers Panel. Providing the level of information sought by the member within a written parliamentary question timeframe would involve substantial collation and review and require entities to divert personnel from their core duties. I do not consider that the time and expense of answering this question to this level of detail within this timeframe is in the public interest.