2. Prime Minister—Confidence in MinistersHon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Prime MinisterPrime Minister—Confidence in Ministers2. Hon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Prime Minister: Does she have confidence in all her Ministers?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Deputy Prime Minister) on behalf of the Prime Minister: Undoubtedly particularly in their efforts to save taxpayer money on unnecessary VIP travel and accommodation in contrast to their predecessors.Hon Paula Bennett: Is Clare Curran the benchmark standard that she expects her Ministers to perform to?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The Prime Minister has made it very public that she did not think that a certain standard had been met and that's why she took action. That's been known for some considerable time.Hon Paula Bennett: So does the quality of answers by Clare Curran in the House yesterday meet the standard that she expects from a Minister of communications?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Again the Prime Minister has to confess that she wasn't in the House yesterday. But we all have an off-day—and no one would understand that better than the member asking the question.Hon PAULA BENNETT: Did she take the time on the flight back from Nauru with Winston Peters to write a list of what he wants so she can try and avoid future embarrassments like the recent number of refugees" fiasco?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The Prime Minister in a press conference in Nauru yesterday was at pains to point out that the statement from various Ministers and herself and Winston Peters were all on the same page. For example when a media airhead puts it to the Deputy Prime Minister that the refugee quota is 1500 and he says "No it's not; that has not gone through Cabinet yet." then he might have been right. But no no that member and the Opposition keep on thinking that this is wedge politics. The reality is that we're a coalition that gets on with consultation and ensures that on the big economic and social issues of the day we make progress.Hon Paula Bennett: Why didn't she know before the media and the public did that Winston Peters didn't support her or her party's policy on refugees?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Because we have had since a referendum in 1993 the beginnings in 1996 of an MMP environment. Parties have their own manifestos but the beauty of a coalition is that you agree on what parts of your collective manifesto's going to be progressed and this is a work in progress.Hon Paula Bennett: Does she have confidence in her Minister of Foreign Affairs when he doesn't seem to respect her enough to give her a heads-up before he publicly challenges what was an important policy to her?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of the Prime Minister I am far too clever to be misled by a stupid false media question which went like this: "The Government's refugee quota is 1500." to which I said "Well no it's not." That wasn't starting an argument; it was putting the facts out there. And the member should know after all this time the big difference: words matter.Hon Paula Bennett: Does she think it's helpful that her Minister of Foreign Affairs treats the media and the public like they're stupid?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of the Prime Minister I know full well the admiration that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has for the media—particularly some of them—and he's made no conceit or deceit about that. He's always said that they could perform far better if their ownership gave them greater resources and greater time to do their job properly.Hon Shane Jones: To the Prime Minister on the matter of standards what does it mean by "comparable ministerial costs"?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Well curiously—and that's a very good question actually for which we are thoroughly prepared. In the second quarter of 2015 under the previous administration costs were $2.33 million. In 2016 in the second quarter under the previous administration costs were $2.25 million. In the second quarter of 2017 $2.2 million and in 2018 the quarter for which this Government is responsible $1.49 million.Hon Paula Bennett: Does she have confidence in her ability to manage her Government when she has Clare Curran twice misleading the House allegations swirling in regard to Meka Whaitiri and she can't even tell us what policy her Government will be implementing without first asking the permission of Winston Peters?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Can I just say that on behalf of the Prime Minister being the epitome of consultation and wise Government I consult with all of my colleagues in Cabinet and outside and amongst the three caucuses involved. That's what MMP looks like under reformed visionary Government."