2. Prime Minister—Confidence in the Minister of Broadcasting Communications and Digital MediaHon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterPrime Minister—Confidence in the Minister of Broadcasting Communications and Digital Media2. Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does she have confidence in all her Ministers?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes. Hon Simon Bridges: Was the real reason Clare Curran advised Radio New Zealand chair Mr Griffin not to appear before the upcoming select committee not to correct the record faster but in fact to ensure questions wouldn't be able to be asked and answered in Parliament about the Carol Hirschfeld meeting? Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: No. Hon Simon Bridges: If the real reason was to get a letter of correction in as soon as possible why didn't Clare Curran advise Mr Griffin to do that and in the interests of openness and transparency also appear before the upcoming select committee to answer the questions? Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Obviously it will be on record that Radio New Zealand were due to appear on Thursday. When it was drawn to Minister Curran's attention that they were unable to appear she passed on advice on the quickest way to correct the record. Hon Simon Bridges: If Clare Curran was so concerned about ensuring the select committee record was corrected why did she wait over three weeks to tell Richard Griffin to correct the record? Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: That is incorrect. My understanding is that her office advised Radio New Zealand on the day. Hon Simon Bridges: Was it wrong no matter what the reason for Clare Curran to advise the chair of New Zealand's independent radio broadcaster Radio New Zealand not to appear at the upcoming select committee to answer questions? Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I reject the premise of that question. As has been stated when it was found by the Minister they were unable to appear on Thursday she left a message with the chair around the possibility of correcting the record in writing—something that the other side of the House has held the Minister to account on; correcting the record as soon as is available. Can I also—while I'm at it—point out that when it comes to written questions there have been a number of occasions where both sides of the House have had to correct the record. I asked the Parliamentary Library for the number of times it happened for the National Government in Opposition and the truth is it took them too long to get me an answer. Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Oh you continue with that affirmation and—SPEAKER: Oh sorry. It's really whether the member should be I'm sure.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Sooner or later it might stick. The issue here is that some weeks ago you admonished the Government for constantly taking a flick in the answers to their questions at the previous Government. You further this week have been quite firm and removed supplementaries from this side of the House for inappropriate comments added to questions to the Government. The Prime Minister's attempt here saying While I'm at it" simply led into what is effectively an unnecessary attack on the previous Government.Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Speaking to the point of order the origin of this issue is the error that the Minister made in not correcting a written answer some months ago. I was simply pointing out that when it comes to the standard the Opposition is lending itself to for the Government there are so many occasions of corrected written answers that the Parliamentary Library cannot provide me with a number.Hon Gerry Brownlee: The point though Mr Speaker—SPEAKER: Speaking further to the point of order?Hon Gerry Brownlee: I am. The point here is that while the Prime Minister may wish to characterise the questioning from the Leader of the Opposition and other members from this side of the House as being about a simple mistake the reality is it's about what was behind that simple mistake.SPEAKER: Yeah OK and that's not going to be traversed here is it. No. OK. I feel somewhat responsible myself for the situation that we have got into because the Leader of the Opposition essentially asked a question from which I inferred a breach of privilege on the part of a member. And that is something which I should've pulled up at the time and not allowed the question to proceed. Having allowed that to proceed I decided to effectively play the advantage and give the Prime Minister some more latitude because it was a serious and unparliamentary accusation that had been made by Mr Bridges. I should've stopped it and I apologise to the House for doing that now.Hon Simon Bridges: What will the Prime Minister do if she finds out that Clare Curran's voicemail to Mr Griffin does suggest that he does not appear at tomorrow's select committee?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As the Minister has articulated her recollection of the message she left was simply based on the fact that the chair could not attend as was previously scheduled and that in order to correct the record quickly he could do that in writing in lieu of an appearance. When the chair phoned her back to say "I'm already scheduled to attend. Let me know if there's a problem." the Minister did not respond.Hon Simon Bridges: Having advised Mr Griffin to not appear before the upcoming select committee hasn't Clare Curran compromised her right to represent the Government as the Minister for openness and transparency?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again I reject the premise of that question.Hon Simon Bridges: Is the Prime Minister aware of anyone other than Clare Curran advising Mr Griffin to write a letter of correction rather than appear before the upcoming parliamentary select committee?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As was canvassed in the House yesterday when the Minister couldn't reach the chair she did speak to the chief executive of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage about the issue in case he chose to convey that message as well."