6. Question No. 6—Prime MinisterCHLÖE SWARBRICK (Co-Leader—Green) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 6—Prime Minister6. CHLÖE SWARBRICK (Co-Leader—Green) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his Government's statements and actions?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON (Prime Minister): Yes and especially the steps that we are taking to get on top of inflation. From the moment we got into Government we moved fast to get on top of the cost of living reigning in wasteful spending slashing through the red tape and taking costs off businesses. That is good news because our plan is starting to work: inflation is down to 3.3 percent the lowest in three years; and more good news as personal income tax relief is coming next week for the first time in 14 years as we campaigned on letting Kiwis—hard-working Kiwis the people that the Greens and Labour used to care about—get more of their own money.Chlöe Swarbrick: Is the Prime Minister proud—SPEAKER: Yeah just don't get ahead of the House. Just wait for a minute.Chlöe Swarbrick: Supplementary Mr Speaker? Is the Prime Minister proud that under his Government's draft emissions reduction plan in less than a year in office he's taken us off track to meet climate targets in 2035 and carbon neutrality by 2050?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Well what I am proud about is our commitment to delivering on net zero 2050. For that to happen we need to balance the emissions budgets each and every time. Emissions budget 1 has been delivered emissions budget 2 is being delivered emissions budget 3 will be delivered but we have time for that to happen and the draft for a plan is out there. I encourage people to submit on it.Chlöe Swarbrick: Can the Prime Minister explain what least cost" means in the context of the emissions reduction plan?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Oh my goodness! We are wanting to make sure that we lower our emissions across New Zealand and we are going to do everything we can to do that. What we are doing is doubling the amount of renewable energy to make sure that we can get things built faster. And I just encourage the Greens—I would love it if the Greens came out and actually cared about emissions and actually support our fast-track legislation so we can double the amount of renewable electricity in this country and lower our emissions in the process. Please please join us.Hon David Seymour: Is reducing emissions at least cost a great improvement on past policies where Governments sought to reduce carbon emissions at a cost many times greater than the emissions trading scheme (ETS) price or in other words chose to take less carbon dioxide out of the air than they could have if they took a least-cost approach?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: I think reducing a tonne of carbon at the least cost is a good idea.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: What is the ETS price?SPEAKER: We'll hear from Chlöe Swarbrick.Chlöe Swarbrick: Who exactly is this plan least cost for given that his own document lays out that his Government's over-reliance on market mechanisms like the emissions trading scheme will cost the lowest-income New Zealanders four times as much money as the wealthiest in this country?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Well I'd just say to that member if you cared about working New Zealanders you would support our tax relief plan because that actually would support low-income working New Zealanders. But we are determined to deliver on our emissions commitments and we'll continue to do so.Chlöe Swarbrick: Is the Prime Minister aware that the Ministry for the Environment and Treasury have estimated that this country is potentially liable for anywhere near $24 billion if we fail to meet our Paris Agreement obligations to 2030—that is 6 years from now—which his Government's decisions are demonstrably making it harder to do?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: I would just say to you: we're going to work incredibly hard to deliver on the emissions commitments that we have made. Nationally Determined Contribution 2030 is tough but the previous administration signed us up to it and made it incredibly difficult and didn't deliver against it or make progress against it. We're going to work hard to do so.Chlöe Swarbrick: How exactly does the Government's strategy for credible markets supporting the climate transition align with the Government's Budget decision to shred funding for the emissions trading scheme and the recent failure of the ETS auction?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: I'd just say to the member the member may not understand but what we are trying to do is to make sure that we deliver on our climate change emissions targets and goals. The way in which we go about it may be different from the previous administration but we're going to do it our way to deliver those commitments.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Does the Prime Minister believe the Government has a responsibility to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Yes it's our founding document.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Will he then commit to voting against the proposed Treaty principles bill at second reading?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Our position has been very clear on that as discussed in our coalition agreements.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Is it appropriate for a Minister who clearly has no understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi to be directing Pharmac to ignore the Treaty?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: What is appropriate is that the Minister responsible for Pharmac is ensuring that every New Zealander can get access to drugs irrespective of whether they're Māori or non-Māori. It's about making sure we open up and get more drugs. And what I'll just say is compared to the previous administration which failed to fund core Pharmac needs to the tune of $1.8 billion we found 54 new medicines at $600 million to improve the lot of 175000 Kiwis. I'd stand on our side to focus on improving health outcomes for Māori and non-Māori and particularly the Pharmac Minister's doing a great job.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Is repealing Māori wards which the tribunal ruled breaches the principle of partnership and our right to representation an example of his Government honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: I disagree with the characterisation of that question. All three parties in the coalition Government oppose the creation of Māori wards. We're making this a decision for local communities. And if they wish to create them they can; if they don't they won't.Rawiri Waititi: Are policies such as the Fast-track Approvals Bill the Treaty principles bill the removal of section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act the ministerial alienation of te reo Māori and the disestablishment of the Māori Health Authority examples of the Government's honouring of Te Tiriti o Waitangi?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Well there was a lot in that question. What I'd say to you is actually the fast-track legislation I would encourage Te Pāti Māori to get behind as well because we want better outcomes we want to build things and actually grow our economy.Rawiri Waititi: How does he reconcile removing section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act which will alienate tamariki Māori from their whakapapa and lead to more harm in State care with the report on historical abuse in State care being introduced this week?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: We are prioritising the health and wellbeing of the individual child—that is the primary consideration with the change that has been made."