3. Question No. 3—FinanceHon JUDITH COLLINS (Leader of the Opposition) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 3—Finance3. Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Leader of the Opposition) to the Minister of Finance: Is he comfortable with the processes and deliberations that have led to the stimulatory package of initiatives the Government has promised to confront the effects of COVID-19 on the New Zealand economy? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): Yes in the context of needing to respond swiftly to a one-in-100-year shock caused by a global pandemic.Hon Judith Collins: Does he have any advice on why the Prime Minister said yesterday that she was comfortable with the processes that led to funding the Green School when she said it ticked all the boxes" and was "seen so favourably by the Crown infrastructure process" when Treasury said even if the school had the necessary regulatory approvals which it presently hasn't "we do not recommend funding for this school"?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: That'll be because Crown Infrastructure Partners rated the project highly and short-listed it from a list of 1900 applications that they received.Hon Judith Collins: Does he know if James Shaw as the associate finance Minister discussed the Green School with the Prime Minister at any time before the shovel-ready infrastructure package was signed off; if so how did he learn about that?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: No I'm not aware of that.Hon Judith Collins: Did the Prime Minister tell him if she'd met with Green School co-founder Rachel Perrett to discuss the future of education in New Plymouth in 2019?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: No.SPEAKER: Question No. 4—Hon Judith Collins: No no—SPEAKER: Sorry.Hon Judith Collins: Sorry. Does he know if Green School co-founders Rachel and Michael Perrett met with the Prime Minister or communicated with her about the school on any other occasion? SPEAKER: No I think we're now getting to the point of knowledge of areas outside the Minister's responsibility.Hon Judith Collins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Of course the question was transferred by the Prime Minister.SPEAKER: Well the member needs to when that occurs either adjust the nature of the primary question or take a slightly different approach to the supplementaries.Hon Judith Collins: Did he raise James Shaw's advocacy for the Green School with the Prime Minister before Mr Shaw issued his email ultimatum to Ministers; if so what did the Prime Minister say?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: No. Mr Shaw's advocacy of the project is well and truly on the record. Perhaps I can put it this way for the member: a coalition Government's a little bit like a marriage; you can't always control what your partner does or says. Hon Judith Collins: Well perhaps he could then ask whether or not he can control his Associate Minister of Finance.Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: As I said to the member a coalition Government is a little bit like a marriage. I've known Minister Shaw for not quite 41 years and I respect him and I can't control everything he says or does.Hon Judith Collins: Why did he not raise the issue of Mr Shaw's emailed ultimatum with the Prime Minister?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Because in a coalition Government there are always strong views held by different parties and I'm perfectly capable of doing my job as Minister of Finance.Hon Judith Collins: Then why didn't he?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Because on this side of the House we have a coalition Government that's passed more legislation than any Government that's come before us and that's achieved thousands of good outcomes for New Zealanders by making sure that we work together and that we compromise. Minister Shaw is responsible for the words that he used; I'm responsible for being the Minister of Finance in a Government that I am extremely proud of."