2. Question No. 2—Prime MinisterDAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 2—Prime Minister2. DAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government's statements and policies?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes particularly the Government's investments in infrastructure. Around 30000 rural homes and communities will soon have access to faster improved connectivity with an expansion of the Rural Capacity Upgrade programme. Last week 21 contracts signed by Crown Infrastructure Partners will accelerate upgrades to towers and broadband connections in areas with poor coverage including the Far North Gisborne Manawatū Whanganui Taranaki Southland and Waikato. This is something our rural communities have called for and it's something we as a Government have responded to.David Seymour: How does it feel to be the first Prime Minister in 168 years of Parliament to try and entrench her own policies without even knowing she was doing it?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Obviously the House is well aware that entrenchment provisions will come back before the House today and will be removed. We have acknowledged that a mistake was made and we're fixing it.David Seymour: Was it the Government's policy to entrench that water services entities must own water assets and if not why did she vote for it?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I've already said in the public domain on multiple occasions the entrenchment provision and the fact that it was supported was a mistake and one that we are fixing.David Seymour: Was it Government policy to entrench clause 116 of the Water Services Entities Bill and if not why did her Minister of Local Government vote for it—or was that just a mistake too?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I refer the member to my two prior answers. In answer to the first question the member will of course be aware that the entrenchment provision was not part of the Government bill. It was a Supplementary Order Paper from another party and that therefore answers his first question.David Seymour: Does the Prime Minister accept that through her recklessness—her Government trying to pass 24 bills in one week under urgency—she created a major constitutional cluster and has shown no contrition for doing so?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The member's claim is incorrect first of all; and second of all the bill has not passed. And finally there have been a number of occasions in which Governments have extended sittings in order to debate legislation. That policy is not new.David Seymour: What does it say that no other Government in 168 years has been arrogant enough to try and entrench their own policies—up with the voting right provisions that protect our most basic democratic rights?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I totally disagree with the member's characterisation of the issue.David Seymour: Why has the Government explicitly ruled out the COVID-19 royal commission inquiring into the private sector saying in its terms of reference that the commission must not inquire into the operation of the private sector except where the private sector delivers services integral to a pandemic response." and who exactly does she think's going to pay for the $106 billion of extra net core Crown debt that her Government racked up over the last four years?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I'm sure the member would agree that if you're looking into a Government response one of the parameters should be looking at the Government response. We wanted to be clear that the inquiry wasn't about any other private sector's decision-making or their contribution to the pandemic. It needs to be focused on what we as a Government need to learn from the pandemic response so that we're best prepared for the future.David Seymour: Has the Prime Minister talked to any business people lately or is she just not aware that the Government's response had some pretty big effects on the private sector?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Despite the nature of the member's question which I have to say is slightly hard I'm taking question time seriously; it would be good if he did too. In response to his question economic and monetary policy are absolutely in scope. We absolutely agree that the COVID response had an impact on everyone's lives and livelihoods including the operation of business. That is why it is included. I stand by our response but so much so that I welcome an inquiry into it and a comparison against it relative to other countries because I absolutely believe in the outcomes which are saving people's lives and our economy. We did an excellent job.Nicola Willis: How can she possibly claim that the royal commission's terms of reference include a comprehensive evaluation of the economic response when they are explicitly restricted to examining "settings required to support New Zealand's immediate economic response to a future pandemic;"?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Because the terms of reference say and I quote "The legislative regulatory and operational settings required to support New Zealand's immediate economic response to a future pandemic relating to fiscal and monetary policy responses including co-ordination and preparedness to implement large-scale changes quickly and monitor their impacts:". It is on page 5 of the terms of reference. For the sake of clarity and to give due the member may have only read the summary of the terms of reference. The full terms of reference state it very clearly.David Seymour: Does she have confidence in broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson after he made repeated suggestions that an interviewer in the chair should be responsible for his company's commercial and political decisions and vice versa on Q+A on Sunday morning?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Yes I do. Secondly I also support the legislation's very clear position on the editorial independence of our public service broadcasters. And thirdly Minister Jackson himself has said it wasn't his best interview."