2. Question No. 2—Prime MinisterHon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 2—Prime Minister2. Hon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government's statements policies and actions?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Deputy Prime Minister) on behalf of the Prime Minister: Yes.Hon Paula Bennett: Does she agree with comments by the Rt Hon Winston Peters in regards to capital gains tax that They won't work in this country. They won't work in any other country. They never have worked."?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of the Prime Minister the responsibility of the Prime Minister is for comments made by Ministers when they were Ministers not beforehand. And on behalf of the Prime Minister I should not have to tell that member that.Hon Paula Bennett: Does she agree with comments by the Rt Hon Winston Peters that "You can't possibly go into an election saying 'My tax policy will be decided by a committee.' "?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of the Prime Minister for the second time now I am not responsible for comments made by members of Parliament before they held a ministerial warrant under my premiership. That's the substance of the matter and whether she agrees or not here's the fine point about a democratic constitutional Government: that is we're going to consult with the people of this country in the next two weeks. [Interruption] I tell you what we can trust: somebody that hasn't got a massive vested interest in this case somebody that hasn't got a massive vested interest in property and is not now thinking about the country but just her narrow selfish egotistical self.SPEAKER: I am going to remind the Deputy Prime Minister that he is speaking as the Prime Minister.Hon Paula Bennett: No no let him go. Does she agree with the comments by the Deputy Prime Minister just yesterday who said "The farming community they are in for the long haul and there is no way a capital gains tax would have any effect on them at all." when today's report says it will cost farmers $700 million a year?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of the Prime Minister I have read the Deputy Prime Minister's comments on the farming show. I know that he comes from a seriously agrarian background and understands the long-term ownership aspirations and intergenerational aspirations of farming families around this country and not one of them who aspires to that will be affected by any capital gains tax.Hon Gerry Brownlee: That's not right. That's not right. Read it.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: No I've done some work in my time son not like you.SPEAKER: Order! The pair of you.Hon Paula Bennett: If the Prime Minister is correct in her comments then why on earth would they be saying that it would cost $700 million a year if a capital gains tax is applied to farms?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of the Prime Minister there is the rub. Who is saying that and what do they mean by "if"? I mean the criteria would be whether or not this is an expanded tax and at this point in time it is not. It's merely a report with a number of options—all 99—and what I'd like to know on behalf of the Prime Minister is: how come they had only four hours to study this and yet had already put out their views before the report came over their desks?Hon Paula Bennett: Does she agree with the comments by the Hon James Shaw recently who said "The only question we should be asking ourselves is: do we deserve to be re-elected if we don't?" with regards to implementing a capital gains tax?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of the Prime Minister that is a fact and I'm glad about that. This is the first fact I've heard thus far in question time—that Mr Shaw said that. Mr Shaw's a visionary Minister and is looking to the full debate and discussion that's going to take place over the next eight weeks. Why don't we all show some patience and be prepared to consult with the public of this country the businesses of the country rather than give your own narrow venal views?Hon Paula Bennett: Can she confirm that any changes as a result of the recommendations in the Tax Working Group's report will be revenue-neutral?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of the Prime Minister it's very difficult to come to a report—Hon Paula Bennett: Grant just told you to say that you haven't made any decisions.SPEAKER: Order!Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Unlike that member I don't need instructions able to think for myself don't need a speech writer not embarrassed by being shown up every day—no. On behalf of the Prime Minister the Prime Minister and her colleagues are not going to come to a decision until they have had the full consultation. And I must say the most interested person in this is the Minister of Finance—the consultation process—and when that consultation is finished we will share with the public our findings. Hon Paula Bennett: You got that right.SPEAKER: Question No. 3 the Hon Amy Adams—sorry; just before you go I am just going to ask Ms Bennett to think about who she's interjecting to."