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 stand by all her Government's statements and actions?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Deputy Prime Minister) on behalf of the Prime Minister: For the second time today on behalf of the Prime Minister yes.Hon Simon Bridges: When exactly did she decide that there would be no more regional fuel taxes while she is Prime Minister?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: First of all the Prime Minister was instrumental in ensuring that there was a regional tax in Auckland and that it was confined to that in law all the way to 2021. Then she decided that she would make sure that the misinformation campaign or fake news did not succeed by putting her personal reputation behind it. I can say personally myself that there will be no more petrol rises on my watch as well.Hon Simon Bridges: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I asked when exactly the Prime Minister decided.SPEAKER: That's right. That's what the member asked.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Can I say on behalf of the Prime Minister that her Deputy Prime Minister has not been apprised of the exact chronological thinking order so I can't possibly answer that question. But if the member was concerned about that difficulty why didn't he put it down in his primary question?Hon Simon Bridges: Did she make the decision on the hoof in the House last week?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: There are a lot of things that one could say but the last thing anyone would describe about the Prime Minister is to do things on the hoof.Hon Simon Bridges: If she didn't make the decision on the hoof on the fly why did the Minister of Transport Phil Twyford say on Thursday last week that he knew about it Earlier yesterday"—that is Wednesday—"the prime minister gave me a call and asked me what I thought about the idea of ruling out future regional fuel taxes. We had a conversation about it and agreed … it would be better to just rule out future regional fuel taxes."?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: So the member did know when the conversation happened? He began by saying he didn't. So he did know about the timing. Now let me say this: between 2021 and beyond there will be an election so the relevant matter is that the Government has made a statement pertinent to this term of Government and that's what really matters.Hon Simon Bridges: If she didn't make the decision on the fly why did Associate Minister of Transport Shane Jones say that he only found out about it "When the Prime Minister stood up."?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The reality of it all is that not everyone in the coalition membership knew about this decision. Now can I just say why this has become a mountain from a molehill I don't know because the law is clear as daylight. There will be no changes until 2021 and so any promises made beyond this election are for the next election campaign.Hon Simon Bridges: Why when asked by Ryan Bridge on The AM Show last Friday "It's important we get the time line right because if a Prime Minister is going to make a unilateral decision like that we should know about it probably as soon as it happens." did Parliamentary Under-Secretary Michael Wood answer "You pretty much did. It was made on the day it was announced in question time. That's not news."?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: He's right.Hon Simon Bridges: Can we confirm then that the decision was made last Wednesday?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The member Mr Bridges in setting out his question gave the time line himself so it begs the question: what on earth am I doing here now dealing with this triviality?Hon Simon Bridges: Why did the Rt Hon Winston Peters say Mr Wood was right to say it occurred and the decision was made on Wednesday and then also say that that wasn't so?SPEAKER: Order! Order! I think I'm going to give the member another chance to phrase that question. Hon Simon Bridges: Why did the Prime Minister just say that Michael Wood was right to say it happened on Wednesday—the decision for no new regional fuel taxes made—and then say he wasn't? Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Well first of all words matter in this game. Mr Wood said that it wasn't news and it wasn't and it's not now. Hon Simon Bridges: When Michael Wood said last week "It was made on the day it was announced in question time." was he right or wrong? Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: What Mr Wood said in response to a question was that whatever the timing was it wasn't news. Hon Members: That's not what he said. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: That's what he said. Go and read the transcript and in Gerry's case I'll send it in a note over with a—SPEAKER: Order! Order! Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Well—SPEAKER: He's an honourable member or he's Mr Brownlee. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Well the honourable Mr Brownlee—I'll send it over on a note written by a crown if he likes and maybe pictures. But the reality is that what we have here is a firm Government policy on not extending the regional tax outside of Auckland before the next election and that's all the New Zealanders want to know. Hon Simon Bridges: Which Cabinet committee did she discuss not implementing new fuel taxes and why can none of her Ministers remember that discussion including Shane Jones who told media last week that he cannot remember it being brought up? Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: I've got to say that politics is about the here and now and we're dealing with 2018 2019 and 2020 after which time there'll be an election. In the meantime that which was a decision made by the full Cabinet to not extend regional fuel taxes beyond Auckland stands and it's all the New Zealand taxpayers want to know. Hon Simon Bridges: Does the Prime Minister have any idea when the decision for no new regional fuel taxes was made by the Prime Minister? Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Can I just say that she was appraised by her helpful Cabinet colleagues of the import of the legislation and the second thing is that by the look of her polling she's better appraised of things than someone else I know."