71433 (2024). Hon Rachel Brooking to the Minister responsible for RMA Reform

71433 (2024). Hon Rachel Brooking to the Minister responsible for RMA Reform: Has any Minister declared a conflict of interest pertaining to the Crosstown (Avondale - Southdown) Corridor project proposed to be listed in Schedule 2 of the Fast-track Approvals Bill, and if so, what is the nature of this conflict and what steps have been taken to manage this conflict?

Hon Chris Bishop: I have released some information about the management of conflicts of interest in relation to the Fast-Track Approvals Bill: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-releases-more-fast-track-detail. Ahead of the final list of projects being considered by Cabinet Committee and Cabinet, relevant Ministers 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. The Cabinet Office, on behalf of the Prime Minister, supports Ministers in identifying and managing conflicts of interest that may arise in relation to their portfolios or other ministerial responsibilities. Details regarding conflicts of interest disclosed to the Cabinet Office 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. However, the Cabinet Office 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. Information about steps taken to manage conflicts of interest set out at paragraph 2.76 of the Cabinet Manual (such as declarations of interest at Cabinet and Committee meetings, and ad hoc or short-term arrangements not to receive papers) are not included in that release. The latest release is https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/ministers-interests-2023-2024 Transfers of responsibility were made in relation to the Fast-track Approvals Bill by three Ministers. I have already released details of the transfers of responsibility that occurred relating to Hon Jones and me. Earlier in the year, an Acting Attorney-General was appointed in relation to the Fast-track Approvals Bill as a result of a conflict of interest declared by Hon Collins (see Cabinet Office’s latest proactive release as well as this Gazette notice: https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2024-vr881