1. Question No. 1—Prime MinisterCHLÖE SWARBRICK (Co-Leader—Green) to the Prime MinisterORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSQuestion No. 1—Prime Minister1. CHLÖE SWARBRICK (Co-Leader—Green) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON (Prime Minister): Yes and especially our announcement yesterday that the Government is taking action to support young families with the cost of living crisis. FamilyBoost will help to reduce pressure from the cost of early childcare education (ECE) and support families to be able to get ahead and from 1 July parents of young children can get back up to 25 percent of their weekly fees up to a maximum of $75 per week. We also want to support families who face financial challenges returning to the workforce and ECE fees are a big barrier parents face when they head back to work. I'm telling you FamilyBoost is going to help them with that and that's what this Government is about doing. Chlöe Swarbrick: Does he stand by his statement that tax deductibility changes will reduce rents or would he like to revise that in light of advice that his Government has received that rents are primarily driven by household income and relative supply and demand for housing? Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Across housing in New Zealand we have a supply challenge. We have a supply challenge whether you want to own a house whether you want to rent a house or whether you want to secure one in social State housing. What we're doing is making sure that we can ensure that actually as downward pressure on rents is passing costs on to landlords that end up leading to higher rents is not an acceptable answer. Chlöe Swarbrick: What is a better use of $2.9 billion: tax cuts for landlords; or retention of food in schools expanding fees-free tertiary education and retaining free prescriptions with money left over? Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Well what I can say is I've seen a lot of commentary about school lunches. School lunches will continue to be funded; we just want to make sure that the system is more effective and that wastage is removed and if there's a better way to deliver it at lower cost we'll look to do that. Hon David Seymour: Is the Prime Minister aware that the advice the member alluded to about the effects of mortgage interest deductibility on rental housing continued on to say that in the long run reductions in rents could be expected; and would he advise members as a matter of general practice to read all the evidence instead of selectively quoting some? Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Well what I can say is that when the previous Government actually removed interest deductibility they received advice to say that that would likely put upward pressure. It puts downward pressure on rents. Passing costs on to landlords that only get passed through to renters with higher rents isn't the way forward. Chlöe Swarbrick: What's the better use—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Wait wait—just wait. Some people on your side of the House were offering comment. Now that that's over please continue. Chlöe Swarbrick: Thank you Mr Speaker—and my colleagues in Labour. What is a better use of $2.9 billion: tax cuts for landlords; or maintaining Jobs for Nature which provides investment in conservation projects and jobs in rural communities and doubling the funding for the Department of Conservation? Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Well look I can tell you we're a Government that's going to rebuild this economy and that means that we are going to make sure—Chlöe Swarbrick: How—how? Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Well listen to what I'm about to say. We're going to make sure that we actually make sure Government spending is very effective so that we actually protect our front-line services we are going to give low and middle income working people tax relief—that's something that the Labour Party and the Green Party used to believe in; they were people that they used to support but they don't seem to care about it anymore—and ultimately we're going to work out how to grow this economy. We have a great future ahead of us and that's what we're going to balance in our Budget. Chlöe Swarbrick: Has his Government wound down the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment's just transitions unit and if so how many more climate change jobs are on the chopping block? Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Well what we are interested in is actually delivering on our climate change goals—that's actually what matters here. The means by which we deliver those goals may differ from the previous administration but our commitment is incredibly strong to deliver those commitments. Chlöe Swarbrick: Does he stand by the statements from his Minister for Regulation that risks to endangered native dolphins' lives are the equivalent to driving a car and if so are we to expect that this Government will wind back marine protection in line with their war on nature? Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: I reject the premise of that question and the way that it was characterised. Hon David Seymour: Point of order Mr Speaker. I just want to be clear to the House that I've made no such statement. However some people are unable to understand the point of an analogy about risk rather than literally suggesting dolphins would drive cars. SPEAKER: OK thank you for that. We'll have the question again but bear in mind that what has just been—it now must be taken as the word of the House. Chlöe Swarbrick: Does he stand by the statements of his Minister for Regulation making equivalences between the risks to endangered native dolphins' lives and driving a car and if so are we to expect that this Government is going to wind back marine protection in line with their war on nature? Rt Hon Winston Peters: Point of order. Mr Speaker a question must be substantiated and that last statement is utterly outside of parliamentary order and will lead to disorder if she's allowed to get away with it.Chlöe Swarbrick: Speaking to the point of order Mr Speaker. I can very happily table the likes of the Environmental Defence Society's many press releases which speak to this Government's agenda being a war on nature.SPEAKER: Yes but the member is not here as an advocate for anybody other than those who voted for her. I think the question in the first place was borderline and has now gone over that. So try again with another question. Hon Member: Taking another question?SPEAKER: No I'm giving you an extra one.Chlöe Swarbrick: An extra one? Thank you Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: Yeah unbelievable generosity given the circumstances!Chlöe Swarbrick: What then is a better use of $2.9 billion: is it tax breaks for landlords; or half-price public transport fares which ease cost for struggling families and help us to meet our climate-emission goals?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: We make no apologies for being on the side of renters in New Zealand. We care deeply about folk in New Zealand who are renting properties. The previous administration loaded costs up on landlords and they got passed through to renters with higher rents—$170 more on average every single week. We're on the side of renters. We're taking action to make sure we can do something about it.