2. Question No. 2—FinanceHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 2—Finance2. Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by all of his statements and policies?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): Yes in the context they were made and undertaken.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Can he explain to New Zealanders why so many people still can't go back to work when the Prime Minister says the virus is currently eliminated"?SPEAKER: Well I'm going to let the Minister answer it but it doesn't actually flow from the question.Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Firstly I don't believe that's an accurate representation of what the Prime Minister said and secondly the Prime Minister has just outlined very clearly in her statement to the House the importance of doing this once and doing it right.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Does he remember Auckland Chamber of Commerce boss Michael Barnett begging his Government to help struggling businesses with rent and if so why has there been no significant policy response so far?SPEAKER: Ibid. for my response. Grant Robertson.Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Yes indeed. I have regular conversations with Mr Barnett who I have a lot of respect for. We do know that nearly 70 percent—or probably more than 70 percent—of the $10 billion of the wage subsidy scheme has gone to small and medium enterprises who Mr Barnett represents within the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. Many of the tax changes that have been proposed and will soon be passed through this House will also benefit those small and medium enterprises and as the Prime Minister has just said we continue to work with them on what else we may be able to do.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Why does he say that the wage subsidy has gone to small and medium sized businesses when so many submitters this morning made the point that the wage subsidy has gone to the employees and the businesses themselves have actually received little in the way of cash support?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I'm sure the member is well aware that the wage bill is the biggest bill of most small businesses.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Does it concern him that Rotorua bar operator Reg Hennessy at the Epidemic Response Committee this morning predicted that there will be a "huge shit fight" over rents as small businesses struggle to cope with substantial ongoing costs but zero revenue?SPEAKER: The same response: I just want to warn the member that when he uses a general question like that it's very easy to relate but none of his supplementaries yet have.Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: We're well aware that for many small businesses having no revenue has been a huge struggle. That's what the wage subsidy scheme was about and it's why it was paid as a 12-week upfront lump sum in order for businesses to be able to plan. We continue to work with small businesses on what else we can do.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Does he think it's fair that under Government policies small business operators have been told by the Government to close in the national interest and yet they should be taking so much of the economic pain on behalf of the entire community?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: It's been the recognition from the Government from day one that we all needed to work together to be able to get through this. That's why we are very pleased by the fact that more than $10 billion has gone out the door to support businesses and workers. It's why another $12 billion worth of support via the tax system the business loan guarantee scheme and many other initiatives have been put in place as well.Hon Paul Goldsmith: What hope can he offer Wellington bar owner Andy Gray who told the Epidemic Response Committee this morning that under Government policies so far support has been "not very much use"?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: There are many different views I'm sure within the community. Myself and other Government Ministers are in receipt of people who have described the support that has been provided as a lifeline."