1. Prime Minister—Prison Population and Appointment of Deputy Commissioner of PoliceHon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSPrime Minister—Prison Population and Appointment of Deputy Commissioner of Police1. Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all of his Government's policies and actions?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Acting Prime Minister): Yes.Hon Simon Bridges: Is he concerned that his Minister of Corrections didn't know about the November prison population figures publicly released last week when he made the Waikeria announcement?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: I am concerned when someone in this House seeks to repeat the misinformation of a very tawdry morning radio show. The reality is that my colleague was well aware of the November and then 4 December calculations and figures and forecasts on which the forward prison programme and planning was based. But he was asked about a different report—namely the one he'd received just a few days beforehand the more expanded report—and he was telling the full truth and then he received the gibe But this report's been out for months." Right then that was a false statement by the questioner and that member has taken up on it as well.Hon Simon Bridges: What is this other earlier report he was basing what he's said and done on and can we see it?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The answer to that is that member's party has already requested it under the Official Information Act so he should actually read it. [Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! I'm going to remind members of the Opposition that they are not to bring me into these questions either directly or by way of interjection.Hon Simon Bridges: Isn't the reality that there's only one primary report the justice sector projections one from November that as I say all Ministers and certainly the corrections Minister—SPEAKER: Order! The question's been asked.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The reality is that that is precisely what this Government's answer is. There was the November report which was bedded down on 4 December last year at Cabinet and that was what my colleague Kelvin Davis was basing his answer on. But of course the questioner namely the Leader of the Opposition is repeating the very false statement that was made by the interviewer yesterday on morning TV. And third why doesn't he ask his colleagues who've requested this information under the Official Information Act and get them to read it or better still himself read it?Hon Simon Bridges: Is it concerning that the most senior Labour Party Minister can't remember what the advice he received says and instead needs to google information that he was told about several months prior?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: I'm afraid that the chronological evidence behind that member's allegation simply fails. And in failing on the first grounds it gains no more size weight or evidentiary quality in the second and third round.Hon Simon Bridges: In light of the justice sector November prison population report showing an extra 2000 prison beds forecast and also Corrections' estimates that more police will require an extra 900 prison beds on top of that what are the Government's plans to deal with this?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Well first of all the member should understand that it was not a target. It was a warning and a forecast that even now with this visionary responsible far-sighted Government has seen those forecasts being turned down which surely points to this policy working in the long run and not beleaguering the New Zealand taxpayer at $100000 a year per prisoner.Hon Simon Bridges: In light of the Prime Minister referring to the long run in the short to medium term will the Government now follow the evidence presented to it and build more prison beds required or is the answer to soften the bail the sentencing and the parole laws? Which is it?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The member knows which it is because that policy has been announced by the Government with great clarity and it has been backed up by the fact that for the first time for a long time we've seen a turn down in the number of prisoners in this country. And more importantly when we apply more lawyers and more judges to deal more immediately with people who are offenders so the bail numbers aren't there for 12 months we will see the figures get better as well.Hon Simon Bridges: In light of the prison forecast set to rise by thousands and the answer that the Prime Minister's referred to being a 600-bed prison what more is he going to do to deal with this issue?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: We know—Hon Simon Bridges: Doesn't know.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Well 1500 beds in the ensuing months but we're not going to build a 3000 mega-prison American style so that he can have it privatised so that crime pays for the owner.Hon Simon Bridges: Did any Ministers declare any conflict of interest in relation to the appointment of Wally Haumaha as the Deputy Commissioner of Police?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: No because no conflict of interest exists and more particularly the Cabinet Office has investigated this matter and that is their finding as well.Hon Simon Bridges: Were Wally Haumaha's comments in relation to the allegations against Louise Nicholas known by any Minister and raised during any discussions about his appointment?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Can I say that I can't speak for all my colleagues because I don't know who read the Austin report or not. However I can only assume that he and his colleagues weren't aware of it when they gave Mr Haumaha two honours not one.Hon Simon Bridges: Does the Prime Minister think there would be a conflict of interest if a Minister was appointed to initiate an inquiry into someone who was asked to run as a candidate for election from the same party?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: How amazing—I know a lot of people who first of all try to be members of the National Party and then very late in their desires for a professional career in politics come to the light come to their senses and they never want to go back there again and I understand why. So no we do not hold it against people for having a temporary association with a political party or temporarily flirting with a political party which I know members over there have done countless times in terms of the number who've come to me to ask me if I could help them out.Hon Simon Bridges: When did he disclose to Jacinda Ardern that Wally Haumaha had been a New Zealand First candidate?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The first thing that we don't do is make something up that's not true. Mr Haumaha was never a candidate and the Rotorua Daily Post is not accurate in this matter—plus it doesn't actually say that does it Mr Bridges? It doesn't say that. Come on read it out and tell everybody. You're the Crown prosecutor that knows everything about the law. Well actually the words are very important.Hon Simon Bridges: Does he dispute the Rotorua Daily Post from 2005 when it said last month Mr Haumaha was announced as NZ First's Rotorua candidate but then the party backtracked and said he was a representative but not a candidate?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Very sadly Mr Bridges that story is not true. We've been through—[Interruption] No no the candidate part—we've been through all the 2005 papers the whole procedure. He was never ever announced as a candidate—end of story. [Interruption]SPEAKER: I'm just waiting for the House to settle in both front rows."