1. Broadcasting Communications and Digital Media Minister—Contact with Radio New ZealandHon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Prime MinisterORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSBroadcasting Communications and Digital Media Minister—Contact with Radio New Zealand1. Hon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her statements and actions?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Deputy Prime Minister) on behalf of the Prime Minister: Yes in their context. Hon Paula Bennett: Does she stand by her statement regarding Clare Curran's phone call to Richard Griffin on Thursday 29 March that she left a message with the chair around the possibility of correcting the record in writing" and the premise being that she wanted to correct the record as soon as possible? Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Yes. Hon Paula Bennett: Does she agree with the statements made by Richard Griffin in select committee today that "The Minister seemed to be labouring under the impression at the time she left the message that we were to appear that afternoon." and that "she wanted me to write a letter to the chair of the select committee … which would then ensure that there wasn't a public hearing"?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: First of all Mr Griffin is a very very experienced civil servant—so talented that he was that when he was serving a former National Party Prime Minister he was mistaken for being the Prime Minister. But as for not answering his phone I can vouch for the fact that frequently he would not answer his phone—it was more common than not—and when he uses the words "seemed to be" that means that that's his impression but it may not be a fact. Hon Paula Bennett: Does she still stand by her statement that Clare Curran sought to contact Radio New Zealand to find an alternative so that they could correct the record immediately in light of Richard Griffin's statement today that she wanted him to "write a letter to the chair of the select committee … which would … ensure that there wasn't a public hearing"? Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The most efficient way of handling the matter and in the most expeditiousness of time would be to write a letter rather than to waste everybody's time turning up to a hearing. That said that's what the Prime Minister is relying on and I think that unless the member can come up with something else the molehill is going to remain a molehill.Hon Paula Bennett: Does it appear to her that the reason Clare Curran wanted to have the record corrected on the Thursday that RNZ was due to appear was not about doing it as quickly as possible but to ensure that there wasn't a public hearing on the matter?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Well for a start there wasn't going to be a hearing that day according to the previous question the member asked. So that disposes of that. The second thing is Clare Curran from any reasonable sane reading of the actions was seeking to expeditiously put the record straight and she did.Hon Paula Bennett: How does the Prime Minister reconcile the contradictory statements of Clare Curran and Richard Griffin in regards to that phone call on Thursday?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Because Mr Griffin used the words "seemed to be". That owns up to the possibility that he's wrong. He put it in his very words and words matter you know. You can't just sort of convict something because you don't like them or because you've lost power and you're in Opposition.Hon Paula Bennett: Says more about him than me—has the Prime Minister sought—SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume her seat. I'll ask people on both sides of the House just to settle down and I'll ask Paula Bennett to start her question again without the preliminary comment.Hon Paula Bennett: Has the Prime Minister sought an assurance from Clare Curran that the Minister never suggested to Mr Griffin that he did not or should not appear before the select committee in person given Mr Griffin's understanding of the message he received?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Given that Mr Griffin made that public a few hours ago it is quite possible that the Prime Minister has not had time at this point in time to react particularly since Clare Curran is today again also not available and that's—Hon Amy Adams: Again?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Well it's a Thursday and where's your man? Where's your man? If it's Thursday he's not—SPEAKER: Order! Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Well she started it Mr Speaker.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. SPEAKER: I'm asking the Government backbenchers to be quiet.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Two points of order—first the Deputy Prime Minister is answering in the House as if he's the Prime Minister. So simply saying that she is not available is not a way of answering. Saying "I am unable to answer that on behalf of" would be acceptable.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Point of order.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I'm in the middle of one.SPEAKER: No no no. We'll finish this one.Hon Gerry Brownlee: And the second one of course is referring to a member's absence is inappropriate. And while I'm on my feet I do think the gratuitous flick at the end of the previous question—SPEAKER: No no. Right I dealt with the third matter already. Going to the other matters it was not helpful that the Deputy Prime Minister answering for the Prime Minister drew attention to the absence of a particular member. But I must say it was very much in response to some interjections from the other side as to the absence of the member he was referring to. I think we've just had evidence here of what happens when people by way of interjection make out of order comments or comments which are not helpful which flow on to others. So I think what we'll say here is that there's been naughtiness all round and we'll go back to Paula Bennett for a further supplementary.Hon Gerry Brownlee: So there were three points—you went three two and then forgot about one.SPEAKER: Oh sorry I apologise for forgetting about one. I will remind the Deputy Prime Minister that when he is acting for the Prime Minister he should use the first person in his answers when he's answering in that way.Hon Paula Bennett: In light of the select committee now asking that the recording of that voice message be made public to them if that contradicts the statements of Clare Curran does he expect that she will stay in the job?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: We don't deal in hypotheticals; we deal with facts."