1. Question No. 1—Prime MinisterHon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSQuestion No. 1—Prime Minister1. Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government's policies and statements?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes—particularly the passing of the zero carbon Act last week which was a significant milestone for this Parliament and for New Zealand. I would add that that joins other initiatives like the Green Investment Fund investment in public transport the focus on renewables and just transitions and work around for instance focusing on incentivising low-emissions vehicles. I look forward to the ongoing cooperation and commitment of the Opposition to support initiatives that will actually fulfil the obligations set out in the zero carbon Act.Hon Simon Bridges: Does she stand by her statement on Thursday in the House that the promise to add 1800 net new police wasn't a commitment or promise that the Prime Minister or anybody over here made."?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I refer the member to the coalition agreement which states we'll "strive to ensure that there are 1800 new front-line police." I'm very pleased to say that as at last week we have 1765 graduates. We are doing very well in heading towards that commitment.Hon Simon Bridges: Was Stuart Nash wrong to answer multiple—in fact I think dozens—of written and oral questions saying just that: that it was a commitment to 1800 net new police not just graduates?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again as I say the coalition agreement was around 1800 new front-line police. However not to be outdone the Minister of Police has always had the ambition of making sure that it's also in addition. So we are in fact working towards both.Hon Simon Bridges: On what date did the Government first consider two targets for adding 1800 net new police?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again it's all contained in the coalition agreement. I'll quote it once more: "strive to ensure that there are 1800 new front-line police." I relish in the opportunity to again announce that as of last week we have 1765 graduates. Given that there are more officers on the front line than ever before I would have thought that that member opposite would celebrate that fact with us.Hon Simon Bridges: What happened between midday on 15 October when Stuart Nash said their target was "1800 more police over and above the current rate not 1800 more graduates" and 4 p.m. on 15 October when Winston Peters said it was only about 1800 more graduates?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: No matter what way you cut it all the public hear are "more police—more front-line police" so I welcome these questions. Not only will we have 1800 new we also have been factoring in attrition and are working—Hon Simon Bridges: I hope this is embarrassing her. Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN:—to have them as additional as well. The only thing that member should be embarrassed about is the reduction they had when he was in office. Police numbers are growing and we are proud of that.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Just to be clear Prime Minister: is it a fact that the Government is in fact ahead of schedule in providing these new 1800 front-line police?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Indeed as I say 1765 graduates—obviously not far away from hitting that 1800. But again at the same time we want overall growth in those numbers. There are of course police officers who will retire and leave the police force so we have an aspiration to go beyond that as well.Hon Stuart Nash: Has the Prime Minister seen reports that the previous Government had a target of 880 police over four years and we have delivered that in under two?Brett Hudson: You haven't.SPEAKER: Order! I would have ruled the question out but for the inappropriate interjection.Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I have said we are making up for what we consider to be neglect when it comes to the resourcing of our front line and there are more officers on the front line than ever before which was clearly something that we aspired to in that coalition agreement—to increase those numbers.Hon Simon Bridges: Does she know why the police commissioner answered "No" to the following question: "Have you had any communications that there were two targets relating to the 1800 target?"Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again you won't hear any complaints from the police commissioner that we are both graduating 1800 new police officers and working towards having an additional 1800 as well. Again no matter what way you cut it this all adds up to more front-line police officers which is only a good thing. And I am sad that the member opposite seems to disagree with that.Hon Simon Bridges: Are the words "no matter how you cut it" code for "Yes we have broken this promise."?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: It's code for "We're ahead of schedule.""