3. Question No. 3—Prime MinisterHon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 3—Prime Minister3. Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government's statements policies and actions?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes particularly the coalition Government's economic plan which is creating jobs and supporting our regions as shown by yesterday's Statistics New Zealand release which showed that unemployment has declined in 10 out of the 12 regions and that the number of people employed has grown by 92000 since this Government took office.Hon Simon Bridges: What was annual GDP per capita growth in the last year?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I've spoken about with the member many times before 0.9 percent—not far off what it was under his Government.Hon Simon Bridges: Why does she think GDP per capita has fallen to just 0.7 percent—the lowest since 2011 and the seventh-lowest in the OECD?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As we've traversed many times in this House one of the issues that we've historically had in New Zealand is that we haven't had the productivity increases that we need. Part of the issue has been we're a low-wage economy—very pleasing to see yesterday a 4.4 percent increase in wages showing that the actions of this Government are helping to stimulate wage growth in the economy which is good for New Zealanders. I notice the member continues to fixate on those things that he is dissatisfied with. We continue to focus on the positive and on driving the growth that will make a difference to New Zealanders.Hon Simon Bridges: Is it a sign of a strong positive economy that the Reserve Bank has just now cut the official cash rate by some 50 basis points?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: It's actually a sign that the Reserve Bank follows their remit and the obligations under their remit which are maximum sustainable employment and of course managing inflation and trying to keep it at the mid-point. That's the basis on which they've made this decision. If the member looks abroad he'll note that there is a pattern of very historically low interest rates globally. In fact I notice the member tends to compare New Zealand to Australia. In this case I'd point out that their rate is exactly the same following the cut that's been announced by the Reserve Bank today. I'd also note that actually their unemployment's sitting at 5.2 percent relative to our 3.9.Hon Grant Robertson: In light of that last question would it surprise the Prime Minister to learn that the Reserve Bank cut the official cash rate 12 times under the previous Government including seven cuts during 2015 and 2016 when members opposite were calling it a rock star economy?SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member knows the Prime Minister has no responsibility for that and dressing it up with surprise" doesn't bring it into order. The Minister of Finance will withdraw and apologise.Hon Grant Robertson: I withdraw and apologise.Hon Simon Bridges: What is her position on the protest at Ihumātao?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: That of course as probably all members in this House would respect people are free to protest share their voices and opinions on issues of significance—and for the people at Ihumātao this is an issue of significance. There was obviously though an escalation some weeks ago around the issue. I think it was only appropriate that we seek to de-escalate the situation which is the role that myself and Ministers have sought to play. Now there's engagement involving kīngitanga where we're seeking a for Māori by Māori solution and I hope that all members of this House would support that process.Hon Simon Bridges: What's her position on the Government buying the land at Ihumātao?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I've said many times when asked publicly I'm focused on the solution that can be brokered by kīngitanga—a for Māori by Māori solution. The role of the Crown at present is facilitating those discussions.Hon Simon Bridges: So what's her position?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I just gave it to you.SPEAKER: Well can I just say that neither of you—the "you". We were having a discussion at the Business Committee about the use of the word "you" and both members did not use the word appropriately then.Hon Simon Bridges: Does she support a referendum on abortion at the next election?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Obviously that member is asking me the question in my personal capacity because obviously every member in this House—[Interruption] I'm about to give an answer.SPEAKER: Order! Order! Do the members want an answer or not?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I am going to answer the question. I think it's only fair though that we highlight that every single individual member of this House has their own vote. My position is not a Government position. My personal view as I expressed clearly yesterday was that this is an issue I hope to see resolved this term. So I will not be personally supporting a referendum.Hon Simon Bridges: When did she find out about a referendum on abortion?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Yesterday—that a member of this House may choose to put forward a Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) as it is the prerogative of any member of this House to bring forward an SOP at any time during the course of debate. It's curious to me that the member is not familiar with the process of this House and the fact that an SOP could be raised at any time.Hon Simon Bridges: Does she think the non-release of Julie Anne Genter's letter to Phil Twyford is open and transparent?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: That's a question for the Minister or indeed the member.Hon Simon Bridges: When she said her Government would be the most open and transparent ever did that pertain to the non-release of Julie Anne Genter's letter to Phil Twyford?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Of course the rules of the Official Information Act still apply.Hon Simon Bridges: Does she or her office know the content of that letter?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again this question is relevant to the Minister and the member. I'd also—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: That's pretty much it.Hon Grant Robertson: Which does the Prime Minister consider to be more important: the fact that we have an 11-year low in unemployment or whether or not a particular letter was written on a particular piece of letterhead—which is the big issue for New Zealand? Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Clearly for New Zealanders the fact that their wages are going up and the fact that 92000 more New Zealanders are in employment since this Government took office. Those are the issues that New Zealanders care about. There are also issues around whether or not we're investing in those who need it most with skills and trade training investing in an underfunded health system and building and creating more public housing spaces than have been created by a Government in 20 years. I am proud of the issues that this Government focuses on and I have to say the fact that—SPEAKER: Order! Order!Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: —they do not—SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! When I stand up the Prime Minister sits down and that answer was far too long for a patsy.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Could I ask the Prime Minister as leader has she ever said that one of her colleagues is "[expletive deleted] useless"?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: No.Hon Simon Bridges: Why have unemployed on the dole gone up some 14000 and children in benefit-dependent homes 8000 in the last year?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: That should also be caveated with the fact that—and I'm going from my memory here—roughly 17000 have come off the benefit in that period of time and also that the percentage of the working-age population who are on benefits is still lower than when that Government left office.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I'm just going to ask you to when you do your reflection on the day have a look at the answer that was given to the question to the Prime Minister about the referendum. This is a referendum being proposed by a Government party on a Government bill. For the Prime Minister to say that she had no responsibility for that is I think quite wrong and not fair to the question time process. Further you also allowed the Deputy Prime Minister to ask the Prime Minister to answer a question as a leader. So it's either one or the other: the leader of the Labour Party is either currently the Prime Minister and always answers as the Prime Minister or are you allowing this new category of party leader to answer questions? SPEAKER: I'll—yes speaking to the point of order the Prime Minister.Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Speaking to the point of order Mr Speaker clearly as you've articulated in some of the discussion around the way that this issue will be handled in the House tomorrow it clearly is a conscience issue and therefore there cannot be a Government-supported SOP. Secondly yes I did choose to answer the question but I made it very clear that I was doing that simply out of generosity and clarity albeit I was answering as a member and not as Prime Minister because it is a conscience issue. Hon Gerry Brownlee: Well all right Mr Speaker—SPEAKER: I just want to—no I'm going to indicate something first of all. You know I do have the right to stand as members found out yesterday and I'm going to indicate that the decision I made as to extra supplementary questions as a result of Government interjections has just been reversed as a result of National Party interjections while that point of order was being heard. Points of order are always heard in silence. Further to the point of order the Hon Gerry Brownlee.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I thank the Prime Minister for being so generous to the House but the reality is that we're also at the moment considering a bill on referendums and it is also a fact that any referendum ultimately has a question approved by Cabinet. It's not changing under the new legislation that's being brought in. It's the way it has been all the time. So to suggest that it is simply a matter of conscience is quite incorrect and I think you need to consider whether or not the approach taken to the answer to this question was reasonable.SPEAKER: OK I'm willing to deal with it and I'll deal with the second matter that the member raised first and that is whether the Prime Minister has any responsibility for members that approach her or her approach to members or her description of members. She might well in her prime ministerial role describe members in that way; she has indicated that she does not. Right so the second question which the member put first related to a suggested SOP to the bill and it was in that context that the member indicated consistent with a ruling that I have made that the matter will be treated as a conscience issue that the Government did not have a position on it but she gave her personal position. Possibly this whole performance is my fault because I let the question run when there wasn't actually prime ministerial responsibility and if that is the case I apologise to the House."