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 of her Government's statements and actions?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes in particular the statements that were made on Sunday in support of rolling out across the country 600 learning support coordinators to ensure that those with special needs in our education system have their needs met that teachers are freed up to teach and that all children get the very best education possible. Hon Simon Bridges: Why was residency granted to Karel Sroubek by her Minister? Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Of course I've already thrown out the clarification around him already having residency and it being a deportation order but as the Minister himself has said in this House since the decision was made there has been contradictory information in the public domain. It's only fitting that therefore we go back to Immigration New Zealand and seek further work to be done. Once that is complete there will be more to say. Hon Simon Bridges: Hasn't the only right answer in this case always been to deport? Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I've said the Minister can only deal with the information put in front of him. There has now been brought to light potentially contradictory information in the public domain. We have gone back to Immigration and sought—as fast as possible—clarification and then when we're in a position to we will give greater clarity around those points of contradiction. Hon Simon Bridges: Is she aware that one of the criminal charges Karel Sroubek has faced resulted in the police placing an entire family into New Zealand's witness protection programme?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I've said many times there's a range of reasons why we have gone back to Immigration New Zealand to seek further clarification and work to be done. I do want to ensure that we can do that properly. When we are in a position to share more information around the case then we will do so. Hon Simon Bridges: Is this the sort of person her Minister should grant residency to for New Zealand?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I have spoken before around the basis of the original decision—keeping in mind of course that residency already existed; the decision put before the Minister was around a deportation order. He made that decision based on information put in front of him. There has now been contradictory information that's been put into the public domain and we are now doing additional work. Hon Simon Bridges: Is a criminal with charges so serious that an entire family went into a witness protection scheme someone who should have residency in New Zealand?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: While I won't get into the specifics of this case while we are going back on it because I do want to preserve the ability of officials to deal with this appropriately what I will say is that member well knows having been in Government that there are some cases which I'm sure they wouldn't want to go through and pick out information from selectively. Because there's been over a hundred of these cases while they were in Government too and this just happens to be one of the roles that immigration Ministers hold and it is a very difficult part of the job. Hon Simon Bridges: Has anyone prior to Iain Lees-Galloway's final decision on Karel Sroubek ever discussed or made any representations in any form on the case to her? Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Obviously I've had discussions with the Minister over this case but again I do want to exercise some caution here because as I've said we are going through this case presently. I want to preserve our ability to deal with this case appropriately. When we're in a position to share more information we will. Hon Simon Bridges: Has anyone other than the Minister ever discussed or made representations on the case to the Prime Minister?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Look obviously I've had a range of discussions within my office about this case but the most appropriate way for it to be dealt with is to go back to the source of the original information that went before the Minister—primarily that is held within Immigration New Zealand. That's what we've done. We've seen and responded to the information that's been raised in the public domain and that's what we've taken back to the department and that is what needs to occur in this case.Hon Simon Bridges: Has anyone prior to Iain Lees-Galloway's decision on Karel Sroubek ever discussed or made representations in any form on the case with her?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: No. Hon Simon Bridges: Does she know who has made representations to Iain Lees-Galloway on the case? Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The Minister will have followed the same process that his Minister followed and that is to deal with the facts of the case as it's put before him. That's exactly the process that his Ministers in the last Government would have done before they gave it back to officials. Hon Simon Bridges: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I asked the Prime Minister: does she know who has made representations? She hasn't answered that. SPEAKER: I think she answered that there were written papers or documents before the Minister so it certainly has addressed the question.Hon Simon Bridges: Does she know who has made representations to Iain Lees-Galloway on this case?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: My understanding of the handling of this case was it was dealt with in the usual appropriate way that Ministers exercise their discretion in these cases. Hon Simon Bridges: Why on The Nation did she express confidence in Iain Lees-Galloway but she wouldn't in his officials?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Actually I don't accept that characterisation. I have expressed confidence in the Minister. But what I have said is that the Minister can only make a decision based on the information provided to him. That does not naturally mean that I am therefore placing blame on anyone else. The available information that was put to the Minister yes came from Immigration. That does not mean I am placing fault there. It does mean there are unanswered questions. I'm reserving any position on this until we get to the bottom of this case and I'm allowing the space and time for that to be done but as quickly as possible.Hon Simon Bridges: How long will it be until we know the outcome of the investigation into this Karel Sroubek decision by the Minister?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The original time line that was given to the Minister last week was three weeks. We both discussed that time line and agreed it was too long. We've sought that it be completed earlier than that.