66395 (2024). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Prime Minister

66395 (2024). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Prime Minister: Did Hon Matt Doocey recuse himself from any consideration, deliberation or decision-making in respect of the Fast-track projects and in particular those concerning the Carter Group Limited?

Rt Hon Christopher Luxon: Ahead of the final list of projects being considered by Cabinet Committee and Cabinet, Ministers, including the Hon Matt Doocey, were asked to review their interests and declare any conflicts of interest in relation to any of the listed projects. Ministers who declared an interest with a particular project left the room for any discussion at Cabinet Committee or Cabinet relating to that project. Details regarding conflicts of interest disclosed are not generally released, in order to ensure the confidentiality of Cabinet proceedings, to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs and, in some cases, to protect personal privacy. This has been the approach taken by successive administrations over many years 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, however, proactively releases some details of conflicts of interest where the management action is a transfer of responsibility or a standing arrangement not to receive papers. In line with this, the Hon Chris Bishop has released information about the management of conflicts of interest in relation to the Fast-Track Approvals Bill: Government releases more Fast-track detail | Beehive.govt.nz