Bayly Andrew: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBayly Andrew: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 30 June 2015. Volume:707;Page:4837. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]1.ANDREW BAYLY (National—Hunua)to the Minister of Finance: What Budget policies will soon take effect and help to distribute dividends from the growing economy to New Zealand families?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Associate Minister of Finance)on behalf of theMinister of Finance: All seven of the National-led Government’s seven Budgets have included measures to help New Zealand families get ahead. From tomorrow 1 July children under 13 will have access to free GP visits and free prescriptions; paid parental leave payments will increase with the maximum weekly rate for eligible employees and self-employed parents going from $504.10 to $516.85 gross; and the average ACC levy for a private motor vehicle will fall by around $130 a year which is part of a $440 million levy reduction across the New Zealand economy. These are just three of the policies that this Government is introducing to support families on the back of our strengthening economy.Andrew Bayly: What other recent Budget measures are already in place to help New Zealand families and children?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The Government included a number of other measures in Budget 2014 that took effect from 1 April this year just under 3 months ago. These include paid parental leave increasing by 2 weeks to 16 weeks and that will increase by another 2 weeks from 1 April next year. The parental tax credit rose from $150 a week to $220 a week and the entitlement will increase from 8 weeks to 10 weeks. The Government’s new HomeStart scheme will help around 90000 Kiwis into their first home over the next 5 years. Average ACC work levies paid by employers and self-employed people fell to 90c per $100 and New Zealand superannuation increased by another 2 percent meaning it has increased by 31 percent since April 2008—more than double the inflation rate over that period.Andrew Bayly: How does this year’s Budget build on the policies of previous Budgets particularly in the area of support for families and children?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Budget 2015 included a number of measures in a $790 million package of support for children living in hardship. The following will apply from 1 April next year: benefit rates for families with children will rise by $25 a week after tax—this is the first time that core benefit rates have been increased since 1972 apart from inflation adjustments—extra support for low-income working families with both the minimum family tax credit and the base rate of the in-work tax credit increasing; childcare assistance for low-income families will increase reducing barriers for parents moving off welfare and into work; and there will be increased work expectations for parents on a benefit. The package targets around 160000 families—300000 children—with incomes of less than $36350 per year.Andrew Bayly: How did Budget 2015 build on the Government’s wider programme to support more jobs and higher wages for New Zealand families?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: One of the most important things we can do for vulnerable families is to help get the parents into work. Treasury’s Budget forecast shows there were 194000 extra jobs since late 2010 and another 150000 jobs are projected by 2019. Unemployment is expected to fall below 5 percent in 2016. Average annual wages have increased by $5700 in the last 4 years and they are forecast to rise to around $63000 a year in 4 years’ time which is an increase of a further $7000. So a growing economy supported by the Government’s responsible economic plan is working for New Zealanders and their families.