4. Labour - New Zealand First Coalition—Coalition DocumentsHon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Prime MinisterLabour - New Zealand First Coalition—Coalition Documents4. Hon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her statements?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes in the context in which they were given.Hon Paula Bennett: So which one of these statements from yesterday does she stand by: No the Ombudsman hadn't written to me" or "I'll have to check with my office" or "Yes we have received that letter"?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Actually to be fair I said that all at the same time. I was in a post-Cabinet press conference when I was asked the question and recalled that on my way down I had indeed been told that a letter had been received. I am happy to confirm we have now responded to that letter. So yes I self-corrected on the spot.Hon Paula Bennett: Oh so what was the title of the document she or her office provided the Chief Ombudsman in respect of releasing the 33-page coalition document?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: We're in direct discussions now working alongside the Ombudsman to resolve the issue that's been raised by him and as I've said we will accommodate him and work with him to see resolution to this.Hon Paula Bennett: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I was quite clear in my question "What was the title of the document …" and I didn't get that answered at all.Mr SPEAKER: Yes have another go.Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Mr Speaker I need further clarification: is she asking what the Ombudsman called it or what she called it? I can answer from my perspective. We've always referred to "a range of negotiating documents" and that's obviously the reference that the Ombudsman was raising. The member will no doubt know because her Opposition party members were the ones who made the complaint.Hon Paula Bennett: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Prime Minister asked me a question to clarify. I'd like the opportunity to re-ask the question to clarify.Mr SPEAKER: You can ask the same question again if you want to have the same answer again.Hon Paula Bennett: So she didn't answer my question at all sir but—Mr SPEAKER: Oh I think she did.Hon Paula Bennett: No—"What is the title of the document?"Mr SPEAKER: I think she did and—Hon Paula Bennett: She did not give a title of the document that she gave to the Ombudsman.Mr SPEAKER: Well I think she came close enough.Hon Paula Bennett: So what recommendations if any has the Chief Ombudsman made to the Prime Minister and what was her response?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Look again the Ombudsman wrote to us having received a complaint from the Opposition. He's of course following the process that's usually followed when a complaint is made. He's contacted us we've responded to his questions and I understand we're likely to meet at some point.Hon Paula Bennett: So what was the title of the document that her office gave to the Ombudsman when he requested it over the last couple of weeks?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I've said I've always referred to it as "a range of documents as part of the negotiations"; of course the Opposition have called it something else. I don't see how the title is material in this discussion.Hon Simon Bridges: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I think the issue here is that if the answer to that question is "Well there isn't one document. There's a series." that would be an answer. But I think in light of a very direct question that's not an appropriate answer—Mr SPEAKER: No no the Prime Minister has indicated that she's referred to it as "a range of documents involved in coalition negotiations". That's clear enough.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. This issue turns on whether or not the document spoken of is an official document and therefore subject to the Official Information Act. That's the question being determined by the Ombudsman and until that time I think it's improper that this matter be litigated here for if he decides—as the Government has said—that this is not an official document they will have a right to be privy to none of the document at all.Mr SPEAKER: I thank the member for his advice and I know that he's had some experience in these areas.Rt Hon Winston Peters: A lot of experience in fact.Mr SPEAKER: Yes yes more than I have. But I have looked at this question quite carefully and the question is not one for the Ombudsman. It is one for the Parliament and it is in the end my decision whether it is a ministerial document. I have not at any stage ruled that it is.Hon Paula Bennett: Does the 33-page coalition document contain anything about a work-for-the-dole scheme or any scheme whereby people receiving a benefit might be made to work?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Programmes to get young people into employment were referred to in the document that both parties signed and that is now public and in the public domain. That is already publicly available because it was in our official coalition agreement.Mr SPEAKER: I apologise. I should've actually have ruled the question out I think because no one has yet established that there is a 33-page coalition agreement.Hon Simon Bridges: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: No you're not going to relitigate this are you Mr Bridges?Hon Simon Bridges: Well I think—a point of order on that matter—I mean they've accepted it—Mr SPEAKER: No no Mr Bridges. I've apologised for allowing the question. I was too kind to Ms Bennett.Hon Paula Bennett: I just need to get—because there's a number of quotes here I've got to say. So how does she then stand by her record which says it is "a record of some of our conversations" and Mr Peters' which says it is "a document of precision on various areas of policy commitment and development" and as such when will the document be released?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I said I stand by my statements."