2. Prime Minister—Refugee Quota Starting-out Wages and Employment Relations Amendment BillHon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterPrime Minister—Refugee Quota Starting-out Wages and Employment Relations Amendment Bill2. Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government's statements and actions?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Kia ora koutou e Te Whare. Yes.Hon Simon Bridges: Is it her Government's policy to increase the refugee quota to 1500 or is that simply a personal commitment" of Iain Lees-Galloway as she described it?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I've described to this House many many times before the policies of this coalition Government are contained in the confidence and supply agreement the coalition document and the Speech from the Throne. All other policies go through a Cabinet process.Hon Simon Bridges: So is it her Government's policy to increase the refugee quota of 1500 or is that simply a personal commitment of Iain Lees-Galloway?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I've said many times before all policies of this Government are contained in the confidence and supply agreement the coalition document the Speech from the Throne. All other policies go through a Cabinet process.Hon Simon Bridges: Will the Government abolish starting-out wages by October 2018?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: A third time. Look it's clear that we have established policy between this coalition Government that's set out in the public domain. Everything else goes through a Cabinet process. Now I know the member continues to be jealous that he is not on this side of the House in the position to make the changes that this Government has made and that we have achieved in one year more than that Government achieved in nine but we stick to a process.Hon Simon Bridges: So when Iain Lees-Galloway said in December in a ministerial press statement that the Government will abolish starting-out wages by October 2018 was that just a personal commitment?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again every policy we go through goes through a process. Now the member on that side of the House seems to refuse to accept that it is possible to have three different parties with three different views who are still able to increase wages for New Zealanders; deliver benefits for low-income families to the tune of on average $75 a week; make substantial changes in investment into transport in our regions; make $1 billion worth of investment into our regions—SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! I do want to warn the Prime Minister that when I stand and call for order she sits.Hon Simon Bridges: Can we no longer believe ministerial press statements unless they're signed off by Mr Peters?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: No—ridiculous.Hon Simon Bridges: Does she stand by her Government's policy to create multi-employer collective agreements (MECAs) which has been through Cabinet and would for example force a business in Timaru to have the same pay rates as one in Auckland or is that another of Iain Lees-Galloway's personal commitments?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Actually the member is demonstrating a lack of knowledge around the policy that's in that bill. It is possible as that legislation stands for variable rates to be included in MECAs. So the member clearly does not understand the bill.Hon Simon Bridges: Does Iain Lees-Galloway's Employment Relations Amendment Bill which has been through Cabinet have the full support of all parties in the coalition or is that another personal commitment by the Minister?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: If I could reference a quote made by the Deputy Prime Minister when a journalist speculated in this regard—his response was they'd been interviewing their typewriter.Hon Simon Bridges: Was the Deputy Prime Minister correct yesterday when he stated that the Employment Relations Amendment Bill was a "work in progress" and if so what changes to the bill is her Government considering?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I have outlined many many times before we utilise the Cabinet process to agree everything that this Government declares and puts before this House.Hon Simon Bridges: It's a simple question: are changes afoot to the Employment Relations Amendment Bill?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: My response is that Cabinet determines any changes to legislation.Hon Simon Bridges: Is the reality that she's confused about the progress of Iain Lees-Galloway's bill when Winston Peters says employment law changes are a "work in progress" and Clayton Mitchell says New Zealand First are proud to be supporting the bill?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The only one that's confused is the member asking the question.Hon Simon Bridges: Does anything Iain Lees-Galloway say have the support of the Government or has he simply gone rogue?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: We support the Minister in his work fully.Hon Simon Bridges: I'll go to the real Prime Minister tomorrow.SPEAKER: Order! Order! If the member wants to ask another question he stands up."