Parker David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Parker David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:665;Page:13116] 
6. 
Hon DAVID PARKER (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister for Economic Development 
: When he said: “The Government does have a milestone and it is to achieve parity with Australia by 2025” will he provide New Zealanders with measurable interim milestones; if not why not? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Minister for Economic Development) 
: 
 To slightly correct the member I can confirm that the Government has a milestone and that is to catch Australian incomes by 2025. I have no ministerial responsibility for the establishment of milestones. 
Hon David Parker 
: Will the Minister at least commit to the milestone that by the date of the next election the gap between incomes in Australia and New Zealand will at least have closed to what it was when he took office? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: The voters of New Zealand will make their own assessment on how well the Government has done and will measure that progress at the time of the next election. As I said it is not for me to set milestones. 
Hon David Parker 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I asked whether he would commit to a milestone and he said it was up to the electors. I asked him whether he would commit to a milestone. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No if the member listened to the Minister’s answer he would know that he said that he did not have responsibility as Minister for Economic Development for setting such milestones. 
Hon David Parker 
: If the wage gap is not even heading in the right direction—that is narrowing—but rather will be ever-widening by June next year will he at least admit that his Government has no credible plan and its hollow promises without meaningful milestones are junk? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: Although I have absolutely no responsibility for the future I can tell the member that he is right to point out that we have a plan. The plan involves tax reform investment in infrastructure such as broadband and ultra-fast broadband research and development reform of the labour market electricity market reform skills and education cutting red tape and regulation trade agreements Warm Up New Zealand reform of the Resource Management Act the International Growth Fund a focus on skills in the economy focusing of resources on the front line strengthening the science system getting as much leverage as we can out of the Rugby World Cup a smarter Government procurement programme and many many other things. 
Hon David Parker 
: If the Minister is not responsible for setting milestones who is? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: That is a whole-of-Government exercise and it is clearly set out in the Budget each year. 
Hon David Parker 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It is very hard for members of the Opposition to ask questions of the whole of Government. We can ask questions only of Ministers. He said he has no responsibility for milestones— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister made it very clear that it is not his ministerial responsibility. Matters to do with the whole of Government are normally matters for the Prime Minister. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My colleagues are happier with your ruling than I am. How can a Minister for Economic Development answer in this House that he does not have responsibility for economic development goals? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member knows that is not a valid point of order. He should not have raised it in that manner. It is absolutely a Minister’s right to determine whose responsibility certain matters are. The Minister made it clear that setting any milestones is not the responsibility of the Minister for Economic Development. That is where the matter ends. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. We have heard some things on the radio about a change of ministerial warrants. I just want to make sure that it does not happen in this case. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No no. The member will resume his seat. He is trifling with the House and that will not be tolerated. I warn the honourable member. 
David Garrett 
: Can he confirm that the 2025 Taskforce is to report each year on the progress in catching Australia—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I apologise both to the member asking the question and to the Minister. I ask members to be more reasonable with interjections. I have to be able to hear the question. 
David Garrett 
: Can he confirm that the 2025 Taskforce is to report each year on the progress in catching Australia by 2025 and is he looking forward to that report? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: Yes and broadly yes. 
Hon David Parker 
: Does the Minister for Economic Development agree with the belated statements of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance that a substantial increase in savings by New Zealanders is needed to help achieve income parity with Australia and that accordingly another committee needs to be appointed to give National the ideas that it obviously needs? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: I always agree with the Prime Minister and with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.