Little Andrew: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLittle Andrew: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 22 September 2015. Volume:709;Page:6839. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]1.ANDREW LITTLE (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister Does he stand by all his statements after almost seven years as Prime Minister?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister): Yes. I particularly stand by the statement I made when that member became the leader of the Labour Party when I said: “Gosh if they keep changing Labour leaders at this rate—”Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! I can sense by looking at the questions that this question time is going to be quite different from others. I will still do my best to maintain a level of decorum from all members and if that requires me to ask members to leave the Chamber I will not hesitate to do so.Andrew Little: When he said we are on “the cusp of something special” was that something special 50000 more Kiwis unemployed today than when he came in to office?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: The cusp of something special was amongst other things 199000 jobs created since 2011 a lift in the average wage of more than $10000 a year a turning round of the Government’s books the 11 straight quarters of growth and the 18 quarters of economic growth. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! I just warn members that there is quite a large barrage coming particularly from my left.Hon Bill English: Can the Prime Minister confirm that in 7 years of being Prime Minister he has never really been asked a hard question and it is unlikely to start today?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: No I cannot confirm that but that is the best question I have had in the 7 years I have been Prime Minister.Andrew Little: Why after 7 years in power does he keep promising lower unemployment is over the horizon but keep delivering increasing unemployment instead?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Because this is a Government that has seen 18 straight quarters of economic growth. It is a Government that has got a record number of people into apprenticeships. It is a Government that has seen the books put back in order. And interestingly enough this is now the fifth straight month in a row—Andrew Little: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The question was very well focused and totally straight on the question of unemployment. We have had a lot of other statistics and information given by the Prime Minister but he has not addressed the question.Mr SPEAKER: Order! No—[Interruption] Order! No I am on my feet. The question was clearly around unemployment and the Prime Minister started his answer by talking about 18 quarters of economic growth. That does in effect address an issue of unemployment—[Interruption] Order! But the answer was certainly going on longer than it needed to and in future answers should be more concise and address the question. [Interruption] Order!Andrew Little: Given that economic growth this year has been less than half of what was forecast in the Budget and that First NZ Capital has said that there is a 30 percent chance of a recession what steps is he taking to prepare New Zealand for recession?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I am glad the member asked that question because having inherited a mess of a set of accounts from Labour over the last 7 years we have turned the books around and I am pretty confident that we will be getting pretty close to surplus.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. There was so much barracking coming from the other side of the House that despite sitting next to the Prime Minister I was unable to hear his answer. I think that he should be able to give it again.Mr SPEAKER: Order! No no—there was a huge level of interjection I accept that but I managed to hear the answer. That is the important thing.Andrew Little: After 7 years why is he in denial of the obvious facts that unemployment is rising and the economy is stalling? Is it because he did not see it coming or has he got nothing to do or say about it?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: The economy has grown for 18 quarters in a row. There are more people in employment in New Zealand than ever before. When it comes to not seeing things coming I suggest that the member be careful because Jacinda Ardern is coming for his job—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order!Andrew Little: Why is he devoting so much effort and taxpayer money to failing flag referendums and to chasing fluffy pandas when he should be putting that effort into our stalling economy and creating more jobs?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: We have put more money into health and education than ever in the history of this country and what a remarkable set of results we have achieved by doing that. Just to give you an example in 2008 68 percent of people got National Certificate of Educational Achievement level 2; today it is 81.2 percent. Māori achievement is up from 44.5 percent to nearly 68 percent—Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Prime Minister said that he would give one example; I accepted one example.