PM's Post-Cabinet Press Conference 11/3/19: China, Jones, Tax
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern began her weekly press conference by noting that a date had been set for the official
opening of the ongoing China-NZ Year of tourism. Delays in this event had contributed to suggestions of deteriorating
relations between NZ and China. There were questions on this and ongoing efforts to schedule a prime ministerial visit
to China.
The Prime Minister said Shane Jones retained her confidence as a minister. Jone attended a meeting where other ministers
decided to allocate Primary Growth Fund funding to a project Jones had some connection with. Ms Ardern said Jones had
followed the advice he was given on his conflict of interest but he agreed he could have done better "managing the
perception issue". Regarding apparent attacks on journalists over the issue, Ms Ardern said she was not in the habit of
interpreting the intent of what Shane Jones says.
Other topics included IAG pulling out of contents insurance in Wellington, the government's approach on possible foreign
onterference in elections, the Greens' comments on the capital gains tax and fiscal policy, the measles outbreak in
Canterbury, the 'process issue' around academic Anne-Marie Brady making a submission foreign interference to the the
Justice Select Committee, a visit to New Zealand from two members of the United States National Security Council, our
politicians' (and businesses') attractiveness as a target for cyber attack, the NZ Defence Force report on the
Afghanistan action investigated in the documentary The Valley, the possibility of a Rainbow Ministry, and a government presence for the handover of a petition on the Ihumātao
housing development.
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