2. Question No. 2—Prime MinisterHon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 2—Prime Minister2. Hon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government's statements and actions?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Deputy Prime Minister) on behalf of the Prime Minister: On behalf of the Prime Minister yes.Hon Paula Bennett: Is it correct that she and her Government have been receiving daily situation reports on COVID-19 and that yesterday was day 58?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of the Prime Minister yes.Hon Paula Bennett: If the Government has been receiving situation reports for 58 days in a row why then couldn't the Ministry of Health tell journalists how many ventilators there are in the country as soon as a couple of days ago?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The reality is that the Minister referred the questioner to the various health boards around the country to give an update as to the existing ones they've got those that can be possibly brought into use as fast as possible with some work and that's the updated situation. We're working on it as we speak.Hon Paula Bennett: Does the Prime Minister think though that the Government should know how many ventilators there are in the country?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The reality is the Government does know now how many ventilators there are in the country and those that have not been used of late but are being updated or brought back into action as fast as we possibly can. Then there are other alternatives as well including offshore purchasing.Hon Paula Bennett: Will there be a proactive release of Cabinet papers and daily situation reports which show why the Government are making certain decisions around COVID-19?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of the Prime Minister the matter of transparency for the Government is so obvious. We need the country all to be aware of what the Government is seeking to do in cooperation with the people of New Zealand. So transparency is not the primary issue at the moment. The major issue at the moment is solving the problem we face in terms of an enemy from without that's causing an economic and health crisis and to stand here posturing about politics and trying to make personal advantage does that party no credit whatsoever.Jami-Lee Ross: Does she agree with the Director-General of Health's advice that the 16 cases in the last two days were all overseas-travel related and if so has she sought or received any advice on closing the border to all non-citizens and non-residents?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: That's an excellent question. The reality is that as of today there are 28 and they all are connected with overseas travel—all 28—and so the answer to the member's question will be in my view one that we will be imminently looking at and will be able to give you an answer not now but I think very very soon.Hon Paula Bennett: How much scrutiny are customs officials giving to visitors arriving to check whether they know about self-isolation and how they plan to carry it out?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of the Prime Minister all scrutiny possible is now being applied to incoming passengers including having a police force alongside our customs officials and others to ensure that they get to understand how serious this issue is.Hon Paula Bennett: What consideration if any has the Government given to requiring inbound international flights to screen information videos and/or to hand out information pamphlets in different languages on the planes around COVID-19 and the rules in New Zealand?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: At the moment the consideration of that has already been a fact. But the reality is that international airlines are shutting down their passage to New Zealand at the moment and we are suggesting to New Zealanders not to leave this country at the moment: just don't travel in the interests of preserving the safety of the people of this country. Giving out the kind of information that that member is referring to is a thing of the past in this context because there won't be any travel.Hon Paula Bennett: Are people arriving in New Zealand today from an overseas country that may have COVID-19 and that's why they are required to self-isolate and could better information consistently be given to them by Government officials?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of the Prime Minister new arrival cards have already been published printed and issued and are being issued as we speak.Hon Paula Bennett: Can the Prime Minister accept I'm not asking about information cards that they fill out but information given to the visitors so that they understand the rules of New Zealand for them coming in what self-isolation actually means and are given the right information at the right time and not open to rumour and innuendo?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of the Prime Minister I am so glad that it's not open to rumour and innuendo because that's what we've heard from some sources thus far sad to say. But the reality is they're given all the information they're told exactly what it means in terms of self-isolation and in every way the guidance that was given by the Minister of Health is passed on to them as well. Plus they're told If you don't keep your word and we find you you'll be right out of this country. You'll never be able to come back in."Hon Paula Bennett: They're not told that.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Yes they are.Hon Paula Bennett: Are people arriving in New Zealand from Pacific Islands where they don't have COVID-19 at the moment and so do not have to self-isolate then standing in queues at the airport with people arriving from other countries that do have COVID-19 and are required to self-isolate?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: It's very hard to imagine how people from the Islands—for example from Samoa and are coming on a plane that is out of Samoa—will have people from Europe in the same queue because they will be on different flights."