1. Question No. 1—Prime MinisterHon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader—National) to the Prime MinisterORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSQuestion No. 1—Prime Minister1. Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader—National) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government's statements and actions?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Mr Speaker malo ni. Yes. I particularly stand by our actions to extend paid parental leave stop foreign purchasing of Kiwi homes stop State house sell-off building that first KiwiBuild home restarting super fund contributions increasing the minimum wage committing to child poverty reduction targets implementing the Families Package making GP visits cheaper investing in hospitals and schools funding more teachers beginning planting 1 billion trees investing in regions through the Provincial Growth Fund beginning the recruitment of 1800 more police running a healthy surplus sticking to the Budget responsibility rules committing to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 stopping new offshore oil and gas permits creating tax breaks for research and development phasing out plastic bags and making the first year of tertiary education fees free. [Interruption] SPEAKER: Enough. Thank you.Hon Simon Bridges: What is the current national price of petrol and how does that compare to this time last year?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Mr Speaker I haven't got the exact Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) number today. I keep an eye on the fuel prices in Auckland regions which are fluctuating at the moment between mid $2.30 and mid $2.40 in the Auckland region.Hon Gerry Brownlee: What? Where do you buy that?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: In Auckland.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Where do you buy that?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: You're not from Auckland. We've always—if Minister Brownlee actually reflected this is the exact problem we are talking about: the fact that it is more expensive in other parts of the country than it is where there's an Auckland regional fuel tax proves our point.Hon Simon Bridges: Does she know how much extra that is costing the average Kiwi to refill their car?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Look we are cognisant of the cost of living for New Zealanders which is why the first thing we did when we came into Government was improve the incomes of low and middle income families through the Working For Families package which is over $5 billion straight into the back pockets of those who need it most instead of tax breaks for those who do not.Hon Simon Bridges: Does she know any numbers on the price of petrol and how much more it's costing people today?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I know that the margin—the actual margin—since the Government has come into office by fuel companies is in the order of 9.28c and that's been enough for this side of the House to act on this issue change the law and look at what is happening at the pump for consumers and why in 10 years we now have the most expensive pre-tax fuel price in the OECD. For us we're going to do something about it. That member seems to think that it's OK and stands on the side of fuel companies. Hon Simon Bridges: What does she say to the average Kiwi who is now paying $25 more every single time they refill their car?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: For those across the country they'll know the 3.5c that came in on 1 October is not the vast bulk of the problem. They'll want something done about that and we are.David Seymour: Is the Prime Minister happy that rising petrol prices are reducing people's driving and therefore the country's carbon emissions?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: There is absolutely something to be said about a just transition but we have said that we are not comfortable with the fact that we are in a situation—we have an infrastructure deficit—SPEAKER: Order! I am going to interrupt the Prime Minister. It's now just got too noisy from my left. All right? I want to be able to hear the Prime Minister. She's got the advantage of the microphone she's quite close to me and I'm struggling.Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: There aren't the public transport options available to people that there should be and that is why we are transitioning to ensure that those options exist. And in the meantime we are concerned about the prices that they're paying. Rt Hon Winston Peters: Is it true that support for these policies is unwavering in contrast to Mark Mitchell overnight: Support for Simon is unwaving"?SPEAKER: Order! Out of order.Rt Hon Winston Peters: What's wrong with that?SPEAKER: No. Now can I just make it clear to the right honourable member that he is the most experienced member of the House—[Interruption]—and he should know that he doesn't interject while I'm on my feet. He knew that question was out of order and when you ask a question that one knows is out of order that is in itself disorderly. He will stand withdraw and apologise.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I withdraw and apologise. I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. We are in grave danger of losing the character of this House if when you're given a golden goose you cannot use it. SPEAKER: Order! We are in danger of losing one of the characters in the House. David Seymour: So would this Government like the price of petrol to be lower or higher?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: It is about giving options to those who currently rely on their vehicle for transport. At the moment those options aren't widely available for people particularly in parts of Auckland. We're investing in public transport alternatives and we are moving towards a just transition of low-emission alternatives but at the moment we're dealing with a deficit left by that Government and consumers are paying for the price. David Seymour: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Prime Minister gave us a lot of information but I don't see how she addressed the very simple question: what is the Government's intention with respect to fuel prices?SPEAKER: Well no I think she addressed it at length. Hon Simon Bridges: Why when petrol prices have gone up by 46c a litre across the country under her Government is she still pressing onward with two more petrol tax increases over the next two years?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: It is absolute mischief-making to imply that a 40c increase comes down to the 3.5c excise that has been introduced by this Government. But the member is in the habit of mischief-making throwing out this morning completely fake false information about regional fuel taxes that by law cannot be introduced by this House. It was absolutely false and incorrect and a complete distraction by that member.Hon Simon Bridges: Why when petrol prices have gone up by 46c a litre across the country under her Government is she still pressing onwards with two more petrol tax increases over the next couple of years?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: What I'm pressing on with is getting to the bottom of that 40c increase which is what consumers want us to look at. That is our duty that's why we have changed the law and that's why we are committed to getting to the bottom of an issue he gave up on when he was Minister.Hon Simon Bridges: Why doesn't she just use some of the $5 billion sum surplus she's got from the legacy of the economy over the last few years rather than piling on yet more taxes on fuel hurting Kiwis today?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The 3.5c goes directly into the kinds of initiatives that are required to keep our people safe on our roads and the kinds of initiatives that will give them options to get out of their vehicles. What I'd like to hear from that member is what he's going to cut as a result of not having excise in place?Hon Simon Bridges: What relief will the market study she's referred to a number of times today provide New Zealanders right now when they fill up at the petrol pump?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The direct relief we're giving New Zealanders are increases to the minimum wage the families tax credit which results on average in $75 a week going directly to those families getting rid of things like letting fees making sure that there are more housing options including State and public housing. That's the kind of thing that makes a marked difference to people's lives. When it comes to fuel we've said that we will undertake a market study so we can look at competition. We can look at what's happening to Wellingtonians because they're paying a huge amount for their fuel that cannot be explained by transport. Clearly that member thinks we don't have a problem.Hon Simon Bridges: In light of her claim today of mischief-making has she or any of her Ministers discussed with any regional council other than Auckland the possibility of introducing a regional fuel tax?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: It is a matter of public record that a number of councils have asked for one because of the infrastructure deficit that Government left them and they are so desperate for investment in their area. We have ruled it out. In fact if the member knew a little bit about the legislation we've passed he'd know by law it is being ruled out.Hon Simon Bridges: Why does the Government's regional fuel tax legislation enable other councils to bid for a regional fuel tax from 2021 onwards?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The regional fuel tax legislation puts in a date but I can give this guarantee to this House and to consumers: there will be no other regional fuel taxes while I'm Prime Minister which at the moment feels like it might be for a while.Hon Simon Bridges: Did she just make that undertaking on the hoof because she knows how much this is hurting Kiwis all over this country?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I've made that statement because that member is circulating false information."