3. Question No. 3—Prime MinisterHon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 3—Prime Minister3. 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: Does she have confidence in Shane Jones who declared a conflict of interest regarding Manea Footprints of Kupe then attended meetings regarding Manea and provided assurances for Manea so that Grant Robertson signed off on the funding in light of those very assurances?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Yes. As I said yesterday Minister Jones himself identified at the very beginning of the consideration of the application that he had a conflict of interest. He contacted the Cabinet Office they gave him advice and he followed it.Hon Simon Bridges: Well how does she explain Shane Jones' ability to provide assurances on this project" where his only connection to it—according to the Prime Minister on Newstalk ZB on Tuesday morning—was knowing one of the kaumātua quite loosely?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Yes he knew one of the kaumātua and I also acknowledge that he had knowledge of the project. Minister Robertson asked a question around milestones and Minister Jones answered one of those questions. Again he himself has acknowledged that it would have been better for him to leave the room but in terms of managing his conflict he was not a decision-making Minister.Hon Simon Bridges: Is what she really just said that he's rather more closely aligned to this project than she let on on Newstalk ZB on Tuesday morning?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: No.Hon Simon Bridges: Does she think the Hon Jones "upholds and is seen to uphold the highest ethical standards." when he referred to Hamish Rutherford as a "bunny boiler" and threatened to use parliamentary privilege to continue to criticise him?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I've already shared in public my view on those comments. I have said that I considered them ill-advised.Hon Member: Say it again.Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I just said it.SPEAKER: Order! Can I just ask members on my left to actually listen to what's being said because they wouldn't make the inane interjections that they did if they had.Hon Simon Bridges: Does she have confidence in her Minister of veterans who told veterans support group No Duff that they only got their funding because of him and that they recognised that fact and that they recognised the responsibility that comes with the funding—that is voting for New Zealand First?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I do not agree with the insinuation there that the member has made; however the Minister obviously was speaking in a ministerial capacity. Of course I have shared with him my view that when speaking in a ministerial capacity references of a party political nature should be left at the door. But I reject the association the member has made between funding and votes. I do not believe that is accurate or a fair reflection.Hon Simon Bridges: So has she got confidence in him?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Yes I do and I do want to also acknowledge that the member himself was speaking at an event with a group who in a very short space of time did incredible work around PTSD with returned veterans and the Minister himself recognised that saw that funding go to them within a very short time of us being in office and—can I add—put RSA funding on a secure footing for a period of four years rather than the uncertainty they had under that Government.Hon Simon Bridges: Doesn't the amazing work they do make it all the worse to cheapen it with a shameless bid for votes like Ron Mark did?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again as I said in my last answer he was speaking in a ministerial capacity and in those cases I would expect that party political discussion to be left at the door; however I do reject the idea that he has behaved in the way the member has relayed. In fact No Duff Charitable Trust themselves said they hold "no view on the Minister's recent comments but we appreciate his willingness to speak frankly and with candour. The Minister is an important member of the veterans' community. He is one of us."Hon Simon Bridges: Did Cabinet specifically sign off on the funding at Ron Mark's suggestion to ensure veterans vote for New Zealand First?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: No and that funding if I recall was through a Budget process.Rt Hon Winston Peters: What would the Prime Minister prefer: a Minister for Veterans—not "of" veterans but "for" veterans—who passionately does something rather than one that does nothing?SPEAKER: I'd just like a day to go by without the member breaching.Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I appreciate the huge passion that the Minister brings to his portfolio and I don't think anyone questions that.Hon Simon Bridges: Does she think Damien O'Connor should be telling Animal Evac New Zealand that "You can't go riding us and then come to us for funding." and does she think that threatening to withhold funding from a voluntary animal evacuation organisation if it didn't stop its criticism is acceptable behaviour for a Cabinet Minister?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: There have been several occasions in this House when I have seen claimed quotes attributed to the Minister that have not been correct and I would prefer to speak with the Minister directly on statements that the member claims he's made.Hon Simon Bridges: Does she have any reason to believe why the person from Animal Evac New Zealand would make up such a thing in regard to the Hon Damien O'Connor?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: It wasn't them necessarily that I was questioning.Hon Simon Bridges: I seek leave to table a New Zealand Herald story from today that sets that quote out.SPEAKER: I think the member knows he's being disorderly.Hon Simon Bridges: You disputed it.SPEAKER: That's actually not true. I was listening.Hon Simon Bridges: Has the behaviour of Ministers Jones Mark and O'Connor been consistent with the requirements of paragraph 2.56 of the Cabinet Manual which expects Ministers to "act lawfully and to behave in a way that upholds and is seen to uphold the highest ethical standards … exercising a professional approach and good judgement in their interactions with the public and officials and in all their communications personal and professional."?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Based on the advice I've received yes. I also want to acknowledge though that we have in Minister O'Connor a member who is battling the eradication of Mycoplasma bovis which has never been done before; in Minister Jones a Minister who's rolling out finally investment in our regions the likes of which we have never seen before; and in Minister Mark investment in our veterans that is consistent and assured which they have not had in the past decade.Hon Simon Bridges: Is she making excuses for her Ministers' appalling behaviour because they're a little bit stressed with the rigours of Government?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: No. I think you'll find that that was actually a list of achievements."