1. Question No. 1—Prime MinisterHon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader—National) to the Prime MinisterWEDNESDAY 31 OCTOBER 2018The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.Prayers.ORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSQuestion No. 1—Prime Minister1. Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader—National) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government's statements and actions?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes.Hon Simon Bridges: When exactly did she decide that there would be no more regional fuel taxes while she is Prime Minister?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: In the same way that this Government is not looking at or considering reintroducing the death penalty this Government never considered spreading a regional fuel tax. No decision was required because we never intended to expand it beyond Auckland.Hon Simon Bridges: Why then did Winston Peters confirm yesterday that the decision was made on Wednesday last week—Shane Jones has confirmed it was made then; Phil Twyford has confirmed it was made then; and Michael Wood said it was made then as well?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: In roughly December I believe of last year in conversation we were discussing the fact that in law we would be ruling out the ability to spread the regional fuel tax. We discussed the intention in my view that it would not go beyond Auckland. I simply made public something that had already been discussed as a Government.Hon Simon Bridges: Was Phil Twyford wrong to say on Thursday last week that he knew about Earlier yesterday"—that is Wednesday—"the Prime Minister gave me a call and asked me what I thought about the idea of ruling out future regional fuel taxes. We had a conversation about it and agreed … that it would be better to just rule out future regional fuel taxes."?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: He also made reference to the conversation the previous year where we discussed that this would not be extended beyond Auckland. Let's come back to the reason we're even having this discussion: that member spread false information—false information—around this Government's plans and in order to put a line in the sand to point that he was utterly wrong we made sure that there was no question left in anyone's mind beyond this term because he was spreading false information.Hon Simon Bridges: Is she really saying that Phil Twyford hadn't been talking to the mayor and the council at Wellington City Council?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I am really saying that we were not and will not spread a regional fuel tax beyond Auckland.Hon Simon Bridges: Was her Associate Minister of Transport Shane Jones wrong to say that he only found out about the stopping of the regional fuel taxes "When the Prime Minister stood up."?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I have already said last year we were having this conversation and again it's there for all to see in the fact that we put it in law that for this term of Government it would not happen. I have simply confirmed that that will be in perpetuity as long as I am Prime Minister.Hon Simon Bridges: Well what was the Cabinet committee that supposedly this was talked at and how come no one else can remember the conversation?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again I come back to the original reason we are even having this discussion. Somehow the member thinks the fact that we put in law that this wouldn't be happening for three years now the fact that I'm saying it won't happen for say between nine and 12 years or for however long I am Prime Minister—this is not groundbreaking news. We had already put it in law.Hon Simon Bridges: Why did her Government grant residency to Karel Sroubek?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again to correctly categorise the decision that was made my understanding is that he already had residency albeit in an incorrect name.Hon Simon Bridges: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I asked why and that wasn't addressed.SPEAKER: Well I think the question was certainly answered. It was corrected but answered.Hon Simon Bridges: What is her response to the Dominion Post this morning which said "So yes prime minister we have read between the lines. Our reading of it suggests that Sroubek is a person of poor character a criminal who cannot be trusted who arrived here under false pretences. He should be deported. You have got this wrong."?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again as that member should know given that when he was in office there were roughly 100 deportations cancelled from time to time to time Ministers do have information put in front of them that makes for very difficult decisions. I have seen information that would suggest from the information reports that they have been in very similar circumstances.Hon Simon Bridges: Isn't it clear that her Government has prioritised a dangerous criminal's welfare over public safety contrary to her statement that any further offending actions by Karel Sroubek "sits with this individual … anything further is off the minister's conscience and it's on theirs."?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: That is being made absolutely clear by the Minister. He has put into writing that anything further would mean that he would automatically be deported. On the face of it of course it looks like an obvious decision which demonstrates that from time to time Ministers in this position do receive additional information. What we have to make sure is that that information that the Minister makes the decision on is consistent and clear and that's for officials to ensure that they have provided that.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Has the Prime Minister been told why National let this man in?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I have not been privy to any information in that regard.Hon Simon Bridges: Isn't it the case that since the early 2000s Karel Sroubek has been back to the Czech Republic and doesn't that make any decision by Iain Lees-Galloway ridiculous?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The Minister made the decision based on the information he had at the time and he is no different to any other Minister of any political persuasion. They have to deal with the information provided to them by officials. If there is information that contradicts the basis on which the Minister made the decision then that would be for him to go back to the officials and seek further advice. I would have an expectation that he would do that.Hon Simon Bridges: Did she and the Minister not know he had been to the Czech Republic since the early 2000s and is she going to fess up they just got this clearly badly wrong?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Every Minister does rely on the advice that they are provided by officials and the Minister is no different in that regard to the last Minister who overturned 108 deportations. We are all as Ministers reliant on the information we are provided. Again if there is anything that contradicts the information that's been provided it is for the Minister to go back to officials and it would be my expectation he would do that.Rt Hon Winston Peters: On the basis of Mr Bridges' question how many times did National let this man back into New Zealand? Hon Member: It's out of order. SPEAKER: Well no the question of him coming and going was raised by Mr Bridges. Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I do not have—Hon Simon Bridges: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The question was in relation to the National Party. The Prime Minister has no responsibility for the National Party. SPEAKER: Yes but the—I'm going to ask the member to rephrase the question. Hon Members: Oh! SPEAKER: Right who—Rt Hon Winston Peters: On the—SPEAKER: No no—sit down please. I want to deal with whoever interjected then. Rt Hon David Carter: I did. Point of order. I did Mr Speaker. Hon Gerry Brownlee: Yes I did as well. SPEAKER: All right—Rt Hon David Carter: Because it's not your job—SPEAKER: That's six. Any more? Hon Gerry Brownlee: Yeah OK. It's worth it. SPEAKER: That's 10 supplementary questions that will be taken from the National Party today. Rt Hon Winston Peters: On the basis of information being given to this House in good faith has the Prime Minister been appraised of the number of times this man came back into the country and who was the Government at the time? Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Obviously members will draw their inference from the fact that we have only been in Government for 12 months. Again though I reiterate that a Minister would make a decision based on the information in front of him and we would all have a fair expectation that if there is information to contradict that we would expect the Minister to go back to his officials."