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 her Government's statements policies and actions?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes particularly our Government's focus on mental health. As members will be aware that includes the focus on ensuring that there is the roll-out of primary mental health services across the country starting with 170000 New Zealanders; our suicide prevention strategy and action plan; the appointment of the initial Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission which we made last week; establishing a suicide prevention office; and of course a further $8.68 million for mental health services in Canterbury. That was on top of $8.5 million invested in Budget 2019 in response to 15 March. We are a Government that is finally taking mental health seriously.Hon Simon Bridges: Has she had a hint at the GDP figures due out on Thursday and is she pretty pleased with them?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: No.Hon Simon Bridges: Was growth running at 3.7 percent when she became Prime Minister and is it now 2.5 percent?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again of course the member will recognise that that is not an accurate reflection of the long-run average under his Government which I believe was closer to 2.1 percent. Of course New Zealand is experiencing the same changes in growth forecasts here that other countries are experiencing. In fact I recognise that Australia in particular is seeing annual rates now I believe at around 1.4 percent. We are performing well in comparison to others.Hon Simon Bridges: Was that a yes or a no?SPEAKER: No the member knows well that he cannot require that sort of answer. He is an experienced member and he should not ask questions that he knows are disorderly.Hon Simon Bridges: Was growth running at 3.7 percent when she became Prime Minister and is it now 2.5 percent?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again no. I was reflecting on the member's long-run average of 2.1 percent in my last answer and I stand by that.Hon Simon Bridges: You'll have to correct that.SPEAKER: Order! Both of you.Hon Simon Bridges: Given GDP was 3.7 percent when she took office and is now 2.5 percent what roughly speaking is that 1 percent difference worth in dollar terms to the economy?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again I want to reflect that annual GDP growth is at 2.7 percent.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Could the Prime Minister advise as to whether or not New Zealand's current growth rate is superior to the EU the UK Japan and indeed our friends in Australia?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Yes. Again yes—absolutely. We are all in the middle of essentially global headwinds that have led to the IMF and others downgrading their forecasts for growth globally and Australia experiencing growth rates at 1.4 percent. Of course that is going to have an effect on New Zealand in the long run but given our unemployment rate is at an 11-year low our wage growth rates are good and we are running Budget surpluses we are in a good position to take on those global headwinds. [Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! Order! Can I just ask the Minister of Finance and the Leader of the Opposition to stop their side—[Interruption] Oh I apologise. Well that actually makes it worse the fact that it is the Leader of the House that's doing that. I'm very tempted to pick up a recent comment from the Mother of Parliaments from John Bercow there and apply it to that member—[Interruption] The member wants to know what it was? Be a good little boy."Hon Simon Bridges: Does she accept our terms of trade as our exports are at near-record highs?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I'm glad the member's mentioned that. Of course we have seen the export prices boosted by issues like African swine fever in China. That is not a structural change though—Hon Shane Jones: China!Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: —so that does not mean that our exporters despite getting good solid prices will necessarily have the confidence to make different investment decisions. So that's something that the commentators have made remarks about and is something that's clearly being experienced in New Zealand.SPEAKER: I didn't want to interrupt the Prime Minister but I am going to say to the Hon Shane Jones that some of his interjections are far too loud. They resound through my microphone and the Prime Minister's microphone and we all get the feedback of it as do viewers and listeners. If he must parrot comments please do it at a lower volume.Hon Simon Bridges: Is her position that exports are going well because of swine flu but our economy has lost a percent in GDP in the last couple of years simply because of global headwinds?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: No. Again I repeat for the member export prices have been affected by the significant issue caused for example by African swine fever in China. It means that our beef and lamb prices have been advantaged by that. The point I've made to the member is that the export price does not mean that our exporters are looking around at the global environment and trading with as much confidence as they otherwise might. The member might reflect that he refers often to the Australian economy and would the member like to reflect on why it is that the Australian economy is experiencing similar issues?Hon Simon Bridges: How much responsibility does she accept for current petrol prices at the pump?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: If the member thinks that this Government is responsible for oil prices being impacted by a drone strike in Saudi Arabia his belief in our powers is extreme.Hon Simon Bridges: Is the 24c her Government is increasing excise tax by this term the largest reason for increases in petrol prices in the last two years?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: What consumers will be experiencing at the pump right now is what consumers internationally will be and that is that there has been an attack on global oil supplies in Saudi Arabia that has been sufficient enough to mean the US has had to make a decision to open up strategic reserves. That means the price globally has jumped and we've seen that in New Zealand almost instantly at the pump.Hon Simon Bridges: Is the 24c her Government is increasing excise tax by this term the largest reason for increases in petrol prices in the last two years?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I reject the premise of that question.Hon Simon Bridges: When will she deliver on her commitment to build either a second fuel pipeline or more petrol storage at Wiri?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I relish in the opportunity to comment on the report that was released today looking into what happened just before the election to security of supply. Members will remember that we of course had planes grounded by the fact that a fuel pipeline was damaged—Hon Simon Bridges: Answer the question.SPEAKER: Order!Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: —just before the election. It's now been found—Hon Simon Bridges: Answer the question.Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: —that that was done by an—SPEAKER: No the Prime Minister will resume her seat. I am sick of the Leader of the Opposition reflecting on my chairing of the House. He will stand withdraw and apologise.Hon Simon Bridges: Point of order.SPEAKER: No he will stand withdraw and apologise.Hon Simon Bridges: I stand withdraw and apologise. I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I asked a very simple question about her commitment to build a second fuel pipeline. She hasn't answered that.SPEAKER: That's right and that's because she hadn't finished yet. [Interruption] Right those members who interjected then will stand withdraw and apologise.Hon Members: I stand withdraw and apologise.SPEAKER: And Mr Carter.Rt Hon David Carter: I never said a word sir.SPEAKER: Well the member's mouthing appeared that he did. I apologise to him for reflecting on that.Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: To conclude my answer it's been found that that was indeed an Oravida contractor digging for swamp kauri. As a result the inquiry has made a number of recommendations including that the Government should consider regulation in this space and we are currently considering the recommendations we received today.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Can I ask the Prime Minister as to whether she's received any reports preparing her for this thinly veiled attack on the member for Papakura?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Mr Speaker—SPEAKER: No no I think if it had been expressed in a different way we might've got there but I think that was a reflection on the Leader of the Opposition which was unfair.Hon Simon Bridges: Is Jacinda Ardern's promise to build either a second fuel pipeline or more petrol storage at Wiri another broken promise by this Prime Minister?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: No."