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Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition): I rise to speak on this matter, given its significance for New Zealand and globally, and also given the significant uncertainty there is in relation to this matter. I want to say from the outset, on the coronavirus, that the Opposition stand ready to collaborate and to work... |
I regret that at every single step of the way, my clear view is that the Government has done too little, too late. We've had comprehensive analysis conducted on where the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States have been, and at every step, as they have done things, we have been several days behind them. I cou... |
I suggest that, actually, if we don't see harm in New Zealand, it will be much more by good luck than by good management and good practice by the Government. I regret to say I don't believe the Minister of Health is leading on this issue in any way, shape, or form. He waited for the first Cabinet to make preliminary de... |
I want to record the Chinese community's very clear outpouring of views and concerns in relation to this throughout New Zealand. They've been strong, they have been forthright, and, as I say, they have been concerned—deeply concerned—about the lack of measures, the lateness of the measures, in relation to these matters... |
I also want to make this final point that is wider than health when it comes to coronavirus: it is quite clear on the reports that are out in international media about a very significant shutdown throughout China of manufacturing and industry. There is undoubtedly an economic effect that will hit and is hitting this co... |
Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): Just to respond to a few of the member Simon Bridges' points, first of all, I would stress that all decisions that have been taken in response to the coronavirus have been taken with the public health of New Zealanders and the public safety of New Zealanders as our primary conce... |
We make no apology, though, for taking a precautionary approach and making sure that, for example, we had full Cabinet consideration of the categorising of the disease. We have the health pathways in place. The doctors were ready to refer. The powers that we now have in place can be invoked at any time, but historicall... |
In closing, I would say that we will continue to review the situation. The member at one point says we should move faster and more stringently; at the other, he acknowledges that there are economic effects of this virus around the world. We are reviewing the situation because we do not want this situation to be in plac... |
ORAL QUESTIONS |
QUESTIONS TO MINISTERSQuestion No. 1—Finance |
1. MARAMA DAVIDSON (Co-Leader—Green) to the Minister of Finance: Does he agree with the Salvation Army's State of the Nation Report, which said that "despite some significant progress, much more needs to be done to ensure the growing prosperity of our economy is shared more fairly" |
Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): I agree with the Salvation Army report when it says—and I quote—"This report points to significant progress, including an increase in average incomes, a much needed extra spend on welfare and hardship support for beneficiaries, a decline in offending and imprisonment rates, an... |
Marama Davidson: Does he agree with the Salvation Army report that this Government has taken "the first steps towards the society-wide change that is needed", and, if so, what are the next steps to share Aotearoa's prosperity more fairly? |
Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Yes. The Government is committed to improving the living standards and wellbeing of all New Zealanders. In this year's Wellbeing Budget, we saw significant investments to make sure that New Zealanders see their fair share of prosperity, and I point to just a couple of those, including the indexatio... |
Marama Davidson: Can people struggling in our communities be confident that this Government recognises the need to urgently increase incomes and that he's listening to the evidence presented by experts like the Welfare Expert Advisory Group (WEAG) and the Salvation Army report about ways to achieve this? |
Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: In answer to the second part of that question, absolutely, and I have a great deal of respect for both the Salvation Army for their work in this area and, indeed, the WEAG report. We are at a time where incomes are growing. We see wage growth at its highest level. We see the minimum wage rising. We... |
Marama Davidson: As finance Minister, will he be looking to use Budget 2020 to deliver on the Welfare Expert Advisory Group's recommendation to raise core benefit levels? |
Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: As the member knows, we don't comment on the Budget outcomes until they are completed, but it does give me the opportunity to say to the House today that the Budget will be delivered on Thursday, 14 May. |
Marama Davidson: Does the Minister understand that some people had hoped to see more action from the Government to reduce income inequality, given unemployment is at a record low and the Crown's accounts are in good shape yet too many families are still doing it tough? |
Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: It's always my expectation that the public will have high expectations of the Government, but I am extremely proud of the record of this Government in delivering to low- and middle-income New Zealanders, and I can't think of anything better to evidence that than the Families Package, where we turne... |
Question No. 2—Prime Minister |
2. Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government's statements and actions? |
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes, particularly the Government's $12 billion New Zealand Upgrade Programme, which will see road, rail, schools, and hospitals built or upgraded throughout New Zealand. Even though we only recently made the announcement, for schools in particular I'm hearing about projects that ... |
Hon Simon Bridges: Can she name one project that's already under way from that $12 billion spend up? |
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I just mentioned, the $400 million that has gone into schools. We're already seeing individual schooling projects I mentioned. Grant Robertson's electorate is one. I've heard from Chris Hipkins in his area. In fact, if the member cares to ask members on his side, every single school in their a... |
Hon Simon Bridges: What advice has she received on the economic effect of coronavirus on New Zealand? |
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The advice that I've seen thus far has said it is too early to make any assumptions, because much of what we're seeing could well be temporary. In tourism, the question is whether or not the 13 percent of tourism we see come in from the Chinese market will postpone their visits or whether or not ... |
Hon Simon Bridges: How significant does she believe the effect of coronavirus will be on our economy both now and in the future? |
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I have said, actually, whilst it is difficult for us to quantify it now, it is almost inevitable. In fact, I've already said that, in June when we receive the GDP results that cover this period, I absolutely expect for us to see that reflected in our GDP numbers. As you can imagine, as a tradi... |
Hon Simon Bridges: What does she believe the Government's response to the economic effects of coronavirus should be, not just in tourism but in education and primary exports? |
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I have said, at the moment the most direct impact we're seeing for exports is in the live export industry. MPI have worked closely with the rock lobster industry to allow them, for instance, where pots are in the sea, where they've been collected, they're able to be released and in alternative... |
Hon Simon Bridges: Given the consensus reports of about a half a percent off GDP at the moment, that being about $1.5 billion and half a billion less in revenue, what will that lower revenue have in terms of effect on this year and the budgetary process? |
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again, those are just some of the estimated and assumed impacts. As I've said, at this point in time it is just too early to say. For instance, we have really until through to April for some parts of the education sector to see whether or not that will have a long-term impact. Roughly, 59 percent... |
Question No. 3—Prime Minister |
3. Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government's statements and actions? |
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Absolutely, particularly the 18-page comprehensive statement that I released today, which includes a long list of significant achievements I'm incredibly proud of and couldn't possibly pack into a mere 20 minutes. |
Hon Simon Bridges: How much of that Prime Minister's statement has been done, then? |
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: If the member had actually read the report, he would have seen that it is a reflection of all the things that we've delivered, and includes, for instance, a snapshot of our economic record: 2.7 percent growth, unemployment at 4 percent. Of course, we're also debt-down 21 percent, lower than what ... |
Hon Simon Bridges: What is her Government currently doing in relation to the dispute at Ihumātao? |
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I've reported on this many times in this House. The member will remember that in July there was a dispute on that land. Essentially, what happened was agreement between Fletcher's and mana whenua that nothing would happen there until a solution was found. We've simply played a role in assisting t... |
Hon Simon Bridges: When she said last year she hoped it would be resolved by Christmas—has that come to pass? |
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: It's currently 12 February. The member will well be aware we have passed Christmas, but it's obvious that it's been our aspiration to see a dispute like that resolved as soon as possible. That's in everyone's interest, and I would include in that New Zealand's interest, and if the member had an e... |
Hon Simon Bridges: Did she resolve it by Waitangi, like she said she would? |
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: That member, unfortunately, has a poor understanding of the situation if he believes that there is only one party involved in this. There is mana whenua. There is the private company, in Fletcher's. And, of course, the role we're trying to play: to broker a solution. |
Hon Simon Bridges: Will taxpayers' or ratepayers' money be spent on the Ihumātao dispute? |
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again, as I've said many times in this House, a solution is still yet to be announced or a resolution announced. What has been key in all of this was keeping in mind that there is a proposed heritage order over the land. That puts Fletcher's in a very difficult position, and I ask the member, who... |
Hon Simon Bridges: In light of the lack of legal significance around the heritage status, why is she considering spending taxpayers' or ratepayers' money on the Ihumātao dispute? |
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The member's reflection of the heritage status and its effect is inaccurate. |
Hon Simon Bridges: Does she believe resolution of this dispute with taxpayers' money will encourage more protests around New Zealand? |
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: That's a hypothetical. |
Hon Simon Bridges: Does she mean that the dispute is not going to be resolved? |
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I've said many times in this House, once there is a resolution, I would happily debate it with that member. But I'd like to see what his proposals would be and if he believes the solution for New Zealand is to see protest, violence, and a dispute continue after that side of the House declared ... |
Hon Simon Bridges: So when will this be resolved by the Prime Minister? |
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again, I don't take such an arrogant view of my role in this situation. |
Question No. 4—Finance |
4. Dr DEBORAH RUSSELL (Labour—New Lynn) to the Minister of Finance: What reports has he seen on the economic impact of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme? |
Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): I've seen a range of reports from business leaders emphasising the significant impact that the Government's $12 billion New Zealand Upgrade Programme will have for the economy and for businesses. Business New Zealand chief executive Kirk Hope said the additional spending on ro... |
Dr Deborah Russell: What reports has he seen on the economic impact of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme from the infrastructure sector? |
Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Infrastructure New Zealand CEO Paul Blair said that the Government's $12 million infrastructure programme is a fantastic start towards building the infrastructure New Zealand needs to realise its potential. The additional spending and multi-year nature of the package should provide the sector with ... |
Dr Deborah Russell: What reports has he seen on the impact of the Government's increased investment in the economy on the Crown's finances? |
Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: According to forecasts in the Treasury's Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update, net core Crown debt is expected to peak at 21.5 percent of GDP in 2021-22 as a result of the investments made in the Upgrade Programme. This is well below the 22.9 percent we inherited from the previous Government. In th... |
Hon Paul Goldsmith: What reports has he seen on the economic impact of his Government cancelling or postponing National's road projects two years ago? |
Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The premise of the member's question is utterly wrong, because it's not possible to cancel ghost roads. |
Question No. 5—Finance |
5. Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of Finance: What steps, if any, has he taken to ensure the integrity of ministerial decisions in the major spending programmes announced in the previous two Budgets? |
Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): With regard to ministerial decisions that I am responsible for, in terms of the major spending programmes announced in the previous two Budgets, I took steps to ensure the integrity of them in line with the regular Budget decision-making process, similar to the previous Minist... |
Hon Paul Goldsmith: Has anything he has seen in the past three days caused him to question or doubt the integrity of ministerial decision-making about major spending projects has been maintained? |
Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: No. |
Hon Paul Goldsmith: Has he been following the news since Monday? |
Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I absolutely have been and, once again, the Government has been making announcements that benefit the New Zealand economy across the board. We've got a situation just today where we've seen our interest rates held and the Reserve Bank Governor or the monetary policy committee reflecting on the impo... |
Hon Paul Goldsmith: Has he considered reviewing major spending decisions involving New Zealand First Ministers while matters raised by the Electoral Commission and referred to the Serious Fraud Office are resolved? |
Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Well, I'd have to bow to the member's superior knowledge of the Serious Fraud Office in its inquiry work. But, from my perspective, I will await the outcomes of that inquiry like every other member. Otherwise, the Government gets on with its normal order of business. |
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