2. Question No. 2—Prime MinisterCHRISTOPHER LUXON (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 2—Prime Minister2. CHRISTOPHER LUXON (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all of her Government's statements and actions?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Acting Prime Minister): Yes in particular the significant financial support announced today to assist communities in the Hawke's Bay and Tai Rāwhiti regions with the post-cyclone clean-up of sediment and debris. This Government is wholeheartedly committed to helping our communities including our growers farmers whenua Māori and others to recover from the cyclone. This is just another step but we're going to keep working hard alongside these communities to recover and rebuild.Christopher Luxon: Has the Prime Minister lost control of the Government when one of his Ministers waits until he's airborne to announce that she's resigning and defecting to another party?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: That is a party matter. The person resigned from the party; clearly as a result of that the person is no longer able to be a Minister. But we're certainly still in control and certainly still excited to be Government with our strong 62 MPs in the House and we look forward to continuing to serve New Zealanders focused on what matters to New Zealand at this point in time. New Zealanders can be assured that we will continue working hard for them.Christopher Luxon: How can she have confidence the cyclone recovery is being well managed when the Minister responsible has apparently spent more time plotting a defection from the Labour Party than on the recovery?Hon Grant Robertson: Point of order Mr Speaker. I'm the Minister responsible and that ain't the truth!SPEAKER: That's not helpful.Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: I'm really proud of the commitment that we have made to the regions that have been affected by weather. There are a number of announcements and investments we've made to respond. We certainly recognise that this is a journey that we're on and that there is more to do. Our commitment is to working with the whānau and the communities in those affected areas to support them through the recovery and rebuild.David Seymour: Has the Minister considered taking a roll at the start of Cabinet meetings in order to check that no more Ministers have been lost?SPEAKER: Do you want to respond to that? You don't have to if you don't want to.Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Oh no.SPEAKER: It's out of order.Christopher Luxon: How can the people of Hawke's Bay and Gisborne have confidence that the next Minister of cyclone recovery for that region will last longer than the previous two?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: I do want to mention that we have an amazing local MP who's not a Minister there in Anna Lorck and she's been working hard on the ground. It's important to acknowledge that. The person that has been put into the role as acting Minister for the cyclone recovery in Hawke's Bay is one of our most experienced with regards to this type of work. We trust that Kieran McAnulty in his acting role will serve that community and that region well and we absolutely make a commitment to getting behind him with that work.Christopher Luxon: Does she agree with Chris Hipkins who said introducing a capital gains tax would be fairer" and if not why not?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: I also agree with Chris Hipkins that that won't be introduced this term and that we don't currently have a tax policy. All political parties will have their tax policy before the next election but it's certainly not on the table for us now.Christopher Luxon: Does she think a capital gains tax would be fairer?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: It's not a matter that is on the table for discussion and so my personal views on such matters are not a consideration for this House.Christopher Luxon: Why won't the Government just come clean on its plans to slap Kiwis with a capital gains tax when they've made it crystal clear that's exactly what they're working on?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: The Opposition is continuing to act like we have some kind of secret tax plan. We've been very clear that we don't. If it was a secret it would be a huge one because the Prime Minister myself and every other person on this front bench does not know what that Opposition Leader is talking about.Christopher Luxon: How can Kiwis have confidence to invest for the future when she won't be clear whether those investments will be subject to a capital gains tax?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: We've been really clear that we're committed to ensuring that our educational services our health services our social services are supported by us as a Government to provide that necessary support to all New Zealanders unlike the other side of the House who seem to be intending on cutting taxes and therefore services to New Zealanders.Christopher Luxon: How can the hundreds of thousands of small-business owners up and down this country have confidence to invest and grow their businesses if they have no idea how they'll be taxed after 14 October?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Thank you very much for confirming we will be in Government after October. We absolutely have shown our support to small businesses around this country in so many different ways including the $18 billion that we invested into wage subsidy that held up so many businesses through what could've been a terrible terrible time for them and ensured that we saved thousands and thousands of jobs for New Zealanders."