Bennett GlenGLEN BENNETT (Labour—New Plymouth): Well I stand up for the people of New Zealand this afternoon this evening. And as a Bennett I think from a village far far away from the previous Bennett—David Bennett I am proud to stand here and support this piece of legislation this evening. We've had things thrown at us all afternoon evening and our previous speaker just talked about us to not be so dumb that we're destroying the New Zealand economy—he's put his headphones in so obviously he doesn't want to hear this—that we'd fall into the trap. But I just want to say tonight thank you—thank you to the Hon Grant Robertson for his contribution to not only New Zealand society but to this Budget today. When I look at this Taxation (Cost of Living Payments) Bill I see our finance Minister responding to need. I see our finance Minister responding to what is going on within Aotearoa New Zealand. This isn't about polls. One member across the floor said this was made up a couple of days ago. Another member said it was made up six weeks ago. The previous member said it was a couple of weeks ago. This was about responding to need. I also want to say that another thing that's been thrown around is about it being rapacious. Now as a commoner myself as a working-class member of our community I had to look this word up because I didn't actually quite understand. And they keep throwing this rapacious" "rapacious" "rapacious". But then it's about being greedy about wanting more money or possessions or wanting more. But our Cabinet Minister our Minister of Finance is definitely not that kind of person. I think of him as smart as driven as compassionate and having hard-headed compassion to ensure that at this time when we're dealing with our challenges he is responding to need within our community. Now this is a targeted payment. We've heard others talk about this as the 2.1 million or so people. That's almost twice the population of the South Island that are going to benefit from this payment. Now we've heard from the Opposition that this is the cost of a flight to Sydney. Someone said earlier that this is a cheap trip to the pub or won't pay for your Uber Eats for a week. Well we get abused and told that we're out of touch with New Zealand society; well I think it's the Opposition that's out of touch when they're talking about things like flights to Australia or buying Uber Eats or going to the pub because the community that I live in they wouldn't be looking at flights to Australia right now; they'd be looking at what that's actually going to help them with whether it's helping with a new washing machine whether it's going to help them in terms of a trailer load of firewood whether it's going to help them with servicing their car or getting a couple of new tyres for their vehicle. This payment is going to serve the people in my community and I'm grateful for it. And let's just be clear $350—but think about a family. Two for my car—it would be two new tyres for my car. So thinking about a family a couple of parents $700—$700 that goes into the coffers for a family. So when we say we're out of touch I believe it's the other side when they're talking about they're quickly googling what a flight to Sydney is. Well my people are googling things that are actually going to help their whānau and their communities. I'm proud to be part of this party and proud of this Government that is here to support New Zealanders at this challenging time. In closing I just want to mention the Hon Paul Goldsmith who again talks about—you know he was going on and was complaining and then he talked about other things a couple of cheap bus fares and this type of thing; it's not much at all. But again announced today in the Budget was around the community services card that is there and is going to be half-price bus fares for ever and ever and I'm grateful for that—that we're actually addressing we're responding and we're ensuring that New Zealanders can move forward. It's not easy but we're willing to take a stand. And the Taxation (Cost of Living Payments) Bill is one that I support."