Andersen GinnyGINNY ANDERSEN (Labour—Hutt South): Getting a lecture from National on the cost of living feels a bit like getting tips on frugal living from the Kardashians. I struggle to take it seriously.I definitely struggle to take it seriously because this bill provides here-and-now support for those people facing a cost of living crisis in New Zealand. It provides $350 in the pockets of middle New Zealanders over this winter and that is what is needed right now. I would like to acknowledge Grant Robertson for delivering a fantastic Budget that delivers right now what we need and continues New Zealand on the right track. Our economy is one of the strongest in the world with a triple A credit rating record low unemployment and lower debt right now than Australia Canada the United States and the United Kingdom.However despite those positive results we know that global inflation pressures are hurting New Zealand families right here and the world remains an uncertain and volatile place. That is exactly why Budget 2022 provides further relief to those on lower and middle incomes in New Zealand to help pay for food to help pay for petrol prices and to help pay for energy bills until inflation is brought back under control.So what is National's plan that we've heard so much about? National's plan is to point to the global phenomenon of inflation and blame the Government for that and to say quite a lot about fiscal discipline—a lot—but will not actually say what they'll do about it.But I'll tell you what: you only have to look back on National's track record in the history of New Zealand to see what they do. They cut health they cut education they cut housing and they cut welfare into those areas. What they do is what they've said already: put money in the pocket of those top brackets of New Zealanders. Offer no real solution except for tax cuts—that's all we've heard.An interesting fact is that money—that $350 that we've heard today in the House that will not buy very much—is still far in excess than what that family would receive under a National programme of tax cuts. It is far more than what they would receive under that programme.So it's a sad thing today that those members opposite will vote against a bill that provides here-and-now support for middle New Zealand families and I find it quite trite that they vote against that and still cry aloud. The payment is a temporary measure to provide short-term support for those individuals who earn up to $70000 in the tax year who are not receiving the winter energy payment already.The income cap of $70000 has been set to provide for those who provide around the median wage of $65000 a year. The group we're targeting is specifically those who are less likely to have had those increases on 1 April that have already come into force and to provide more help for those who haven't been able to receive Working for Families and the increases in the minimum wage.Approximately 2.1 million people will be eligible for the payment and that's a significantly large amount of New Zealanders. The total payment of $350 will be split into three monthly payments of around $116 each beginning on 1 August and will be paid by the Inland Revenue.Now we know for a fact there is no silver bullet fix to inflation and the rising cost of living in New Zealand. But we are taking a range of actions. We've cut fuel tax to provide immediate relief for Kiwis as the war in Ukraine drives up prices. From 1 April we're increasing support for families pensioners and students and in May our winter energy payment restarts giving the 1 million people an extra boost to help with their heating bills.From the day we came into Government we've worked hard to lift wages to reduce cost pressures on Kiwis through measures like cheaper doctors visits free lunches in schools and a family tax credit. I'm proud to be a part of a Government that delivers a Budget that keeps New Zealand on the right track and provides the support to those people who need it the most.I commend it to the House.