4. Question No. 4—FinanceNICOLA WILLIS (National) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 4—Finance4. NICOLA WILLIS (National) to the Minister of Finance: Does he agree with ANZ economist Miles Workman that Inflation is now running laps around wage growth" and "households are going backwards at an alarming rate"?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): First can I congratulate the member on her new role. I note that Mr Workman's comments are in a document titled "Rebound 3.5" which predicts a strong bounce back in December quarter economic growth. I agree to the extent that at this current point in time households are facing significant cost of living pressures as a result of high inflation driven by global factors such as COVID-related supply chain issues and the war in Ukraine. However when it comes to the relationship between inflation and wage growth I think it is important to look past temporary spikes and rather at long-term trends which has seen wage growth outstrip inflation in recent years something which is predicted to continue in years to come. Right now the Government's focus is on supporting the incomes of those New Zealanders most affected by the rise in prices also while easing pressure caused by the global energy crisis through a 25 percent litre cut to the fuel excise duty and equivalent reductions to the road-user charge.Nicola Willis: Why does he keep gaslighting New Zealanders by claiming his stats prove—SPEAKER: Order! The member will start—no the member will start another supplementary now.Nicola Willis: Why does he keep patronising New Zealanders by claiming—SPEAKER: The member may start another supplementary now.Nicola Willis: Why does he keep trying to fool New Zealanders by claiming his statistics prove they're getting ahead under his Government when they know they're not?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I reject the premise of the member's questions and I would point her to the fact that wages have outpaced inflation between 2018 and 2021 and are projected to do so again. There are periods of time in New Zealand's history when inflation does in fact outpace wage growth. One of those was in 2010 and 2011 under a National Government.Nicola Willis: What does he say to Karl who wrote to me saying "I get what you would think is a nice amount of money a week. Yet even I am struggling at the moment." and can the Minister explain how he expects middle-income Kiwis to cope with the cost of living crisis when they are not eligible for the 1 April changes to benefits and Working for Families?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: As the Prime Minister outlined in her earlier answer the Government has instituted a number of measures across the four years that we've been in Government to help ease cost of living pressures be it taking away school donations be it things like food in schools and a range of other supports. On this side of the House when we put a Budget together we've got difficult choices to make. Among those choices is whether or not we stop investing in long-term issues like for instance building roads or public transport routes or whether we have to balance that against making sure that we support those on the lowest incomes. There are no easy choices. We have chosen the ones we have; the member's party has chosen tax cuts for the most wealthy New Zealanders.Nicola Willis: Is he concerned by surveys showing one in three under-35-year-olds are planning to leave New Zealand in the next five years and does he agree with economist Tony Alexander who says we could soon see a brain drain of Kiwis attracted to Australia by "lower house prices lower cost of living higher incomes"?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I'd be interested to know if the National Party's policy was to ban the OE because that's what we heard just there from the member today. What we do know is that in New Zealand today we have the largest number of New Zealanders in work in modern history in New Zealand the lowest rate of unemployment and a Government that's backing a productive economy. In contrast we have a National Party offering tax cuts to the richest New Zealanders and two bucks—two bucks—a week for those on lower incomes.Nicola Willis: What is his response to Merva who wrote to me saying "Who can afford $500 to $600 a week rent when you are lucky to bring home $800 a week in the hand? Shame on the Government."?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: What I would say to Mervyn is that this Government is building more houses than any Government since the 1970s that we did not deny the existence of a housing crisis and that record building consents mean that supply is now catching up with demand and perhaps the Government that Mervyn was calling shame on was the last National Government that failed to build houses.SPEAKER: Order! I'm going to remind the member that including unparliamentary things within quotes does not make them parliamentary. I think the member probably knows that.Nicola Willis: Does he accept his policies are failing Jordan who wrote to me saying "I too struggle to afford food. Sometimes we only eat toast. I've had KiwiSaver since I was 16. Now I'm 30 and I don't have enough for a house deposit. I'm scared we're not going to have a home for my unborn baby." and is he concerned that his policies are failing a generation of New Zealanders?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: On this side of the House we are proud of the fact that we've made a massive investment in housing to make sure that New Zealanders do have a secure future. On the other side of the House they have a record of selling off housing and now their promise to low and middle income New Zealanders is $2 a week while they—members in this House—would get thousands of dollars a year in tax cuts. That's not the way to a fair society. That's not the way to making sure that people have economic security."