11. Question No. 11—Broadcasting and MediaMELISSA LEE (National) to the Minister for Broadcasting and MediaQuestion No. 11—Broadcasting and Media11. MELISSA LEE (National) to the Minister for Broadcasting and Media: Does he stand by all the Government's views and actions regarding Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media?Hon WILLIE JACKSON (Minister for Broadcasting and Media): Yes. In particular I stand by the Prime Minister's statement yesterday—Chris Bishop: Your statements—the Minister's statement; not the Prime Minister's.Hon WILLIE JACKSON: —referring particularly to TVNZ that as audiences decline advertising revenues decline which means our ability to have public broadcasting declines Mr Bishop. That's why we are investing now to ensure that New Zealand's public media remains strong and accessible to all New Zealanders into the future.Melissa Lee: Does he accept when his officials state—and I quote—The Government … will significantly increase Crown funding for the entity to $200 million annually" and "This is half of ANZPM's total estimated yearly operating budget of $400 million." this means Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media (ANZPM) will cost taxpayers at least $1 billion every five years in new spending over and above the $109 million of new money injected per year over the next three years?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: No I don't accept that at all. The member is talking absolute nonsense. The set-up costs for the entity are only $40 million over four years. I suggest she reads what we have said about this constantly over the last month or so.Melissa Lee: Can the Minister confirm that according to the business case for the merger Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media will have permanently decreasing revenue and increased costs to the Crown over and above the $370 million budgeted this year?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: The business case was speculative. It's just speculating. As Mr Luxon knows business cases look at some of the worst scenarios. So I can confirm that the business case yes talked about that Melissa Lee.Melissa Lee: Point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister did actually tell this House on 27 October that he will actually have those figures on hand and that he will provide it. And I'll quote him: "I'll have to come back to the member on that."SPEAKER: That's fine but what's your point of order?Melissa Lee: Well he should have the figures.SPEAKER: Remind me what the actual question you asked was.Melissa Lee: He needs to confirm whether those figures are in the business case.SPEAKER: Well then don't tell me. Do you have another supplementary?Melissa Lee: I do sir. What will the cost of Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media be to New Zealand taxpayers over the next 30 years as costed in the business case and is it over $6 billion between financial year '27 and financial year '51?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: Again the member is getting all her figures wrong. She's mixing up the $6 billion that the National Party are giving to their rich mates in terms of the tax cuts.SPEAKER: That's out of order.Melissa Lee: Do you want me to ask again?SPEAKER: Yeah I'll give you two additional supplementaries.Melissa Lee: What will the cost of Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media be to New Zealand taxpayers over the next 30 years as costed in the business case and is it not over $6 billion between financial years 2027 and 2051?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: The cost of the merger will be $40 million over the next four years. If you are adding up the investment which is what the member is doing because she's trying to sound all brilliant and saying 200 times three at 30 well you work it out.Melissa Lee: Point of order sir. The question was very specific and it actually said "What will be the actual cost of Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media to the New Zealand taxpayers over the next 30 years as specified and as costed in the business case?"—specific years.SPEAKER: He definitely answered for the next four years and also addressed the rest of the question.Melissa Lee: OK. Does the Minister agree with the Prime Minister that the merger of RNZ and TVNZ is not a number one priority for the Government; if so why is the Minister so insistent on rushing the $6 billion-plus spending plan through before the next election when the cost over the next three years alone could fund at least three new regional hospitals in rural New Zealand?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: The member continues to spout out absolute nonsense. This Government is totally committed to the cost of living. We had a wonderful announcement over the weekend where we talked about subsidised family care. The cost of living is our number one priority. We've also had a 43 percent increase in Pharmac billions of dollars' investment in health and a record investment in Māori. The member does not understand—SPEAKER: The time for general debate is after question time. I'm tempted to give more supplementaries but I think the Minister might see it as a reward!Melissa Lee: If the RNZ-TVNZ merger isn't a number one priority for the Government during a cost of living crisis—if so will he stop this wasteful spending plan and stop the merger?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: Oh no the merger is so important in terms of the future of New Zealand's identity. As our Prime Minister said we want to futureproof our New Zealand media. That is under threat from huge global companies like Netflix. We've got pressures on them that they've never had before. We must look after them. We must create our new identity. We must show more of a Māori voice an Asian voice a young person's voice a woman's voice—voices that were all missing when the National Party was in charge of TVNZ and RNZ."