11. Question No. 11—Prime MinisterDAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 11—Prime Minister11. DAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT) to the Prime Minister: Does she have confidence in all her Ministers?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes.David Seymour: How can she have confidence in Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters when Radio New Zealand reports that he arranged for his personal friends Bee Lin Chew and Su Arn Kwek to go on a taxpayer-funded trip to Antarctica?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I reject many of the assertions made in that question. First of all the Minister has pointed out in a statement that I believe that he has made publicly that alongside the varied interests that visit Antarctica including politicians scientists musicians historians and artists of course we also have an interest in redeveloping Scott Base. That was a Cabinet-mandated request of Antarctica New Zealand that they seek extra sponsorship for that redevelopment and that is the vein in which those individuals visited.David Seymour: Then can the Prime Minister please outline to the House the open and transparent process her Government went through to select philanthropists who might donate to Scott Base before the friends of the foreign affairs Minister Winston Peters Bee Lin Chew and Su Arn Kwek were selected to go on that trip at the expense—SPEAKER: Order! Order!David Seymour: —of other scientific activity?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: To answer the many parts of that question firstly I'm advised that no one lost their spot as a result of—[Interruption]—Mr Speaker?SPEAKER: Order!Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I'm advised that no one lost their spot as a result of the two individuals attending. Secondly of course individuals who visit Antarctica are available or publicly known. Many members on that side of the House will have visited it at some time in their career. Thirdly it is part of the public record and a proactive Cabinet release that there was a requirement or an expectation that Antarctica New Zealand would start looking at additional ways to supplement the substantial funding that Cabinet was putting forward for the redevelopment of Scott Base.David Seymour: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The question was for the Prime Minister to outline the process used—SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member will resume his seat. The question was addressed.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Does she know why an Official Information Act (OIA) response to the National leader's office about the visit of Bee Lin Chew and Su Arn Kwek to Antarctica had redactions under section 6(a) of the Official Information Act which is designed to prevent prejudice against New Zealand security defence and international relations and if so what was specifically discussed with them that caused section 6(a) to be used to stop that information being released?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The member will appreciate obviously I don't have that Official Information Act request in front of me so therefore it is impossible for me to speak to a specific redaction. If there are requests on notice or indeed questions on notice it makes it more plausible for someone to answer a question of that nature.Hon Gerry Brownlee: So has the Prime Minister asked the foreign affairs Minister what was discussed with these two people who were selected by him to travel to the Antarctic?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Obviously I could not have possibly asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs a question around a redaction which the member has only just asked me about. Secondly it has been—David Seymour: Why is the Deputy Prime Minister twitching so much?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Mr Seymour National are giving you two extra supplementaries if you missed that signal. Also the Minister of Foreign Affairs—of course it has been a longstanding practice that they can support or make suggestions around visits to Antarctica. That is not a new process and Murray McCully I'm sure would have been involved on many occasions in that regard.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That was an interesting answer from the Prime Minister but I asked the question if she'd asked the foreign affairs Minister why they were chosen.Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I've obviously given that answer in this House—the rationale that has been provided. The member asked me about a redaction in an OIA which I cannot speak to.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Is the Prime Minister aware that over the years many Ministers have sought to expand the international understanding of the importance of Antarctica to us including asking ambassadors from the EU asking international shipping registers who imperil the fishing resource of Antarctica? This has all been done over the years but not one of them has been the source or origin of a race attack.Hon Member: Is there a question for the Prime Minister?SPEAKER: Well there is a question there.Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I'm aware—[Interruption]—SPEAKER: Order!Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I'm aware of a number of different circumstances under which different individuals who have an interest in Antarctica have been part of the visitation programme. As I've already said it is the prerogative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade to make recommendations from time to time.David Seymour: Supplementary?SPEAKER: No the member knows very well he doesn't have any more supplementaries. Sit down.David Seymour: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I was responding to the Prime Minister who said the Labour Party was happy for me to ask more questions.SPEAKER: The member will resume his seat.