5. Question No. 5—Prime MinisterCHLÖE SWARBRICK (Co-Leader—Green) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 5—Prime Minister5. CHLÖE SWARBRICK (Co-Leader—Green) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON (Prime Minister): Yes and especially our efforts to abolish the Auckland regional fuel tax. I was so pleased to see reporting yesterday confirming that the Auckland regional fuel tax has been fully passed on to motorists. The previous Government didn't care about working New Zealanders frankly who were trying to drive to school or drop their kids off to school. And that's why they were so happy to soak them up with taxes to pay for speed bumps and cycleways. We axed the tax. We're getting Government focused and back on the basics.Chlöe Swarbrick: Does he stand by his joint statement with the Prime Ministers of Australia and Canada on 26 July that the protection of Palestinian civilians is paramount and a requirement under international humanitarian law and if so what exactly is Aotearoa New Zealand under his Government actually doing to ensure this protection?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Yes I do stand by those statements and I'm proud of the work that we've done with the two Prime Ministers to generate now what is three joint statements. What we have been doing is we've been calling for a ceasefire since this conflict started. We're asking for Hamas to release the hostages; we definitely need to see that. We're asking Israel to meet all of its obligations. We've actually supported the UN remit to actually broaden the participation of Palestine within the UN. We've put $17 million of humanitarian aid in and we continue call for the two-State solution. Chlöe Swarbrick: Does he think that the genocide convention is a crucial instrument for the prevention and punishment of genocide and if so why has New Zealand under his Government neglected to join South Africa's International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against Israel despite how he joined Ukraine's case against Russia in 2022?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Well they're different situations. What I'd say to you is—Chlöe Swarbrick: How?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: What I'd say to you is they're different situations and we respect the ICJ rulings and we'll continue to do so. Chlöe Swarbrick: Does he agree with the Minister of Immigration who said regarding this country's failure to grant visas for families of New Zealanders currently in Gaza It is not a visa issue; it is a border issue." and if so is he aware that the Palestinian Embassy in Cairo estimates that since October over 100000 Gazans have crossed into Egypt?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Well what I'd say to the member is that Immigration is prioritising individual visa applications. Successive Governments previous Governments and our Government look at each conflict on its merits. For example Labour said yes to a special visa for the Ukraine but said no to a special visa for Sudan for example. And so what we've done is we're looking at the situation in Gaza. It is different. There are real challenges around documentation there is limited consular support the borders have been effectively closed and we will continue to access each individual case and process it on its merits.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Can the Prime Minister confirm that every New Zealander in Gaza contrary to what the questioner said has been assisted out of Gaza by Foreign Affairs and other embassy work around the world in this country's interests?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Yes as I understand it consular support services got Kiwis who wanted to leave out very very early.Chlöe Swarbrick: How is the situation in Gaza different as the Prime Minister keeps saying?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: As I said we look at each conflict on its merits; subsequent Governments have done that. In this case the situation in Gaza is different. People have very limited access to documentation there is limited consular support and the borders have been effectively closed. That's why we're doing on a case by case basis.Chlöe Swarbrick: How can he justify his Government's failure to impose sanctions on Israel for its illegal occupation of Palestine while supporting sanctions against Russia for its illegal invasion of Ukraine and is this not just a double standard regarding whose rights Aotearoa New Zealand is willing to uphold under his Government?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Look I would say to that member I think our Government has been very clear. We've been calling for a ceasefire. We've been calling for Hamas to release hostages. We've been calling for Israel to meet its obligations. We've been putting aid money in. We joined up with other leaders of other countries to make sure our voice has more impact as a result calling for those things. We want to see the parties get around the table actually pick up the Biden proposal and actually get it done and get back to a two State solution model. Chlöe Swarbrick: Point of order Mr Speaker. I seek leave of the House to table a letter from NGOs academics and community leaders calling for action on Palestine to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs dated 27 June 2024.SPEAKER: Has that letter been sent to the Prime Minister?Chlöe Swarbrick: I am not yet clear on that. It's not available publicly.SPEAKER: Well how do you mean it's not available? It's either sent to him or not. Is it some new letter that no one's seen before?Chlöe Swarbrick: I don't know Mr Speaker. I've been asked to table and release this letter to the Prime Minister.SPEAKER: Well that's not the way to do things sorry."