2. Question No. 2—Prime MinisterCHRISTOPHER LUXON (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 2—Prime Minister2. CHRISTOPHER LUXON (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Prime Minister): Yes particularly our actions that have led to record-low unemployment and more Kiwis in work than ever before; our actions that have led to wages growing and outstripping inflation: up 29 percent—wages—since we became the Government; minimum wage earners earning nearly $7 an hour more since our Government took office; the creation of 281000 more jobs since 2017; the 274000 Kiwis who have taken up free apprenticeships and targeted trades training; the Kiwis who are saving $15 million in just the first two months since we removed prescription costs for all New Zealanders; the introduction of fair pay agreements to deliver fairer wages and conditions for our cleaners our supermarket workers our security guards and our bus drivers amongst others; the families who will be saving as much as $133 a week because of the introduction of 20 hours a week of free early childhood education for twoyear-olds. Mr Speaker I could continue to go on but after your warning yesterday I won't.Christopher Luxon: Can he confirm that despite spending $5 billion more a year on education there are fewer kids going to school and more leaving without NCEA than six years ago?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: No I can't confirm that there are fewer kids in the school system. In fact there are more kids in the school system than there were when we became the Government; it's called population growth.Christopher Luxon: Can he confirm that despite spending half a billion dollars rearranging district health boards Kiwis are waiting longer for surgery longer for cancer treatment longer to see a GP and longer in overcrowded emergency departments?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: He gave up on education relatively quickly—clearly it wasn't part of the script. What I can confirm is that our health system has performed remarkably well despite having to support New Zealand through a global pandemic.Christopher Luxon: Can he confirm that despite spending $2 billion more on social development than six years ago there are 57000 more Kiwis on the jobseeker benefit and there are 35000 more children growing up in benefit-dependent homes?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I note he's given up on health now already as well after a single question. But I can confirm that we have more New Zealanders exiting a benefit and going into work under this Government because of the investments that we've been making in that system to ensure that we are supporting Kiwis back into work.Christopher Luxon: Can he confirm that the Government has built less than 2 percent of the 100000 KiwiBuild houses it promised six years ago?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I note that's still 2 percent more than was built under the last National Government because on this side of the House we believe that when you're in a housing crisis you should build more houses. We're building more State houses than any Government since the 1950s. We've had record building consents and I note for example that one of the things we're doing that's helping to build more houses faster is the fast-track consenting. I note the National Party's pledge to repeal the repeal of the Resource Management Act and cut the funding for the people who would have to design the alternative replacement.Christopher Luxon: Can he confirm that despite spending $155 million on Auckland Light Rail over the last six years the Government still hasn't delivered a single metre of track?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Auckland Light Rail is an intergenerational project. Unlike the members opposite we're not going to give up on that. I noticed for example some of the roading projects that National promised in the nine years they were in Government never started in the entire nine years they were in Government.Christopher Luxon: But based on that is KiwiBuild also an intergenerational project?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: As I've indicated I'm not going to make any apology for the fact that our Government has been focused on building our way out of a housing crisis.Christopher Luxon: Does he agree with his police Minister that New Zealanders feel safer than six years ago despite a 107 percent increase in serious assaults 70 percent increase in gang members and two ram raids happening every single day in New Zealand?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The most surprising thing about that question was that Nicola Willis' lips didn't move while he was asking it. I am very proud of the fact that we have 1800 more police on the beat under our Government and that our police are better resourced than they ever have been before. There is more work to be done in the law and order space—there's no question about that—but unlike the National Party who talk a tough game on law and order and then fail to deliver when they are in Government we are backing our police to do the job that's ahead of them.Christopher Luxon: Does he regret that despite the Government spending $60 billion more than six years ago he's left the company with a—country with a shrinking economy—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! Order! Interjections—I'm going to point out a couple of people now I think. We know the rules during when questions are being asked. Mr Henare and Dr Woods you need to get your timing much much better.Hon Peeni Henare: Right now then!SPEAKER: Perfect example. The Hon Peeni Henare will stand withdraw and apologise.Hon Peeni Henare: Withdraw and apologise.Christopher Luxon: Does he regret that despite the Government spending $60 billion more than six years ago he's left the country with a shrinking economy more crime worse health worse education more job seekers higher rents higher prices higher interest rates and a record number of Kiwis saying this country is going in the wrong direction?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The member just needs to cheer up. So many of the claims in his statement—much like the claims made in their alternative tax policy released yesterday—simply do not add up. I would note that National's vision for the future of New Zealand is that we will sell $5 billion a year worth of houses to foreign investors and we will have four times as many New Zealanders gambling online in order to make their numbers add up. Perhaps those New Zealanders taking up online gambling will be those who get shut out of the housing market and just give up hope.