4. Question No. 4—FinanceHon BARBARA EDMONDS (Labour—Mana) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 4—Finance4. Hon BARBARA EDMONDS (Labour—Mana) to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by all her statements and actions in relation to Budget 2024?Hon NICOLA WILLIS (Minister of Finance): Yes including the statements I made this morning in a speech titled Getting back on track". My statements included: that workers have endured 14 years without any adjustment to tax brackets; that Government spending went up 80 percent; that even with this increasing spending health waiting lists have grown educational achievement has fallen and violent crime has soared; that this year's Budget won't be an instant fix but that instead it will lay the ground for steady progress for today tomorrow and the longer term.Hon Barbara Edmonds: Are the 17 percent of New Zealanders that are going to see no direct benefit from her tax cuts immune from the cost of living crisis?Hon NICOLA WILLIS: No they are not and that is why they are grateful that they have a Government that is focused on the strong economic management needed to get inflation tracking down and interest rates tracking down too. I'd also remind the member that her position is that the other 83 percent of New Zealanders don't deserve tax relief either.Hon Barbara Edmonds: Is she committed to using data evidence and analytics; and if so what data or evidence does she have that her tax breaks for landlords will reduce rents?Hon NICOLA WILLIS: Yes. I have advice from the New Zealand Treasury that our proposals will put downward pressure on rents.Hon Barbara Edmonds: If she is so committed to data evidence and analytic how many if any economists support her tax cuts?Hon NICOLA WILLIS: I would invite that member to tell this House how many economists think it was wise for the Labour Party to invest billions in the middle of an inflation spiral.Hon Kieran McAnulty: Point of order.SPEAKER: You don't need to take the point of order. It's not appropriate to ask the Opposition to take a position that would require them to speak in the House at a time when they clearly don't have the floor to speak. So please answer that question in a different way.Hon NICOLA WILLIS: Well as I have not delivered our tax package yet it would be very difficult for an economist to be informed enough to comment on it.Hon Barbara Edmonds: Does she "dread what comes out of the forecasters' mouths" because she knows her actions are causing the deteriorating economic conditions and her Budget will do nothing to fix it?Hon NICOLA WILLIS: No. I dread it when I see declining growth in our economy and declining revenue because I know what that means in the lives of everyday people. What it means is they are struggling. What it means is that there are fewer customers coming through the doors of small businesses. What it means is that inflation has eaten away at their purchasing power. What it means is that high interest rates are hurting them when they go to pay their mortgage. If that member would like to actually read a chapter from real life she'd understand that declining Government forecasts are bad for all of us and she shouldn't be smug about it. SPEAKER: I just remind members it doesn't matter how loud the House gets the broadcast actually goes out with the Minister's voice not the kerfuffle that goes with it."