11. SUE MORONEY (Labour) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement on 3News last night, on the subject of Business New Zealand’s assertion that women need retraining when returning to employment after extended parental leave that “no. It wouldn’t be my view”?

Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House) on behalf of the Prime Minister: The Prime Minister was asked whether he thought women lose their skills after 3 months, and need to be retrained. His answer was: “No. That would not be my view.” The Prime Minister stands by that answer.

Sue Moroney: Does he agree with the statement on extending paid parental leave that Business New Zealand attributed to UK member of the European Parliament Godfrey Bloom that “It will single-handedly turn back the clock to the 1920s by forcing employers to avoid exposure to the penalties by not hiring young women.”?

Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: The Prime Minister does not stand by anybody else’s statements on this particular issue.

Sue Moroney: Does he agree, then, with National MP Tim Macindoe, who told the Waikato Times on 11 April this year that any rise in costs would have business owners looking to cut spending, and that one way of doing that would be to employ men rather than women?

Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: There are big costs that need to be met. It costs the Government $163 million a year to meet this programme. The Prime Minister is not responsible for Mr Macindoe’s comments on these matters.

Sue Moroney: Given that Paul Mackay was reported by Radio New Zealand as stating that Business New Zealand’s paid parental leave submission was based on political discussions, did those discussions involve the National Party?

Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: We do not speak for Business New Zealand, and Business New Zealand does not speak for us.

Sue Moroney: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. My question was very carefully crafted. It was about whether there were discussions between the National Party and Business New Zealand on the issue of its paid parental leave submission.

Mr SPEAKER: I think the member still has a further supplementary question. Given the Minister’s answer, there is a pretty obvious further supplementary question.

Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The question was whether there were discussions, not whether someone spoke with someone, and somebody else spoke with somebody else. The question was very narrow—were there discussions—and that goes to the core of it.

Mr SPEAKER: I am very interested in the right honourable gentleman wanting questions to be answered. I am very gratified by that, because it certainly did not use to happen in this place. I invite the member to repeat her question.

Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. What on earth did that mean? That you are criticising every previous Speaker?

Mr SPEAKER: Order!

Rt Hon Winston Peters: That you are a paragon of virtue?

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I meant what I said. I have called the member to repeat her question—Sue Moroney.

Sue Moroney: Given that Paul Mackay was reported by Radio New Zealand as stating that Business New Zealand’s paid parental leave submission was based on political discussions, did those discussions involve the National Party?

Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: I am not able to answer that, but what I can say is that Business New Zealand talks to many, many groups, including the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union and, I would hope, the Labour Party.