1. Job Creation and Unemployment—ProgressJONO NAYLOR (National) to the Minister of FinanceWEDNESDAY 29 JUNE 2016Mr Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.Prayers.ORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSJob Creation and Unemployment—Progress1. JONO NAYLOR (National) to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by his statement that a priority for this Government is to build a more productive and competitive economy that supports jobs and higher incomes"?Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance): Yes in the context in which it was made. The Government does not create jobs; businesses do. Under this Government we have seen jobs growth and higher wages for New Zealand families. There were 200000 more jobs in the last 3 years and average annual wages are up $11000 since 2008 to almost $58000. That is a 24 percent increase in the average wage at a time when inflation went up 11 percent.Jono Naylor: What recent reports has he seen on unemployment in New Zealand?Hon BILL ENGLISH: Statistics New Zealand today revised its household labour force data as a result of more accurate data-collection techniques. This provisionally reduced the current unemployment rate from 5.7 percent to 5.2 percent although this will need to be confirmed at the next survey release. Unemployment of 5.2 percent would give New Zealand the 11th lowest rate in the OECD compared with 5.7 percent in Australia. I would stress that this is a result of changes in measurement technique only.Jono Naylor: What is the outlook for jobs and wages?Hon BILL ENGLISH: As I have mentioned in the last 3 years there have been 200000 new jobs added to the economy. Treasury is projecting a further 170000 jobs by 2020. If the average wage follows the projections it will rise from $58000 to over $63000 per year by 2020.Jono Naylor: What specific steps is the Government taking to reinforce business confidence to invest another dollar and employ another person?Hon BILL ENGLISH: There are any number but I will mention just a few that are in the process of being implemented. We are reducing ACC levies to where they are now $2 billion lower per year than in 2012—that is $2 billion left in the hands of ACC levy payers—and we are spending along with local government $110 billion on infrastructure in the next 10 years with particular success in the roll-out of ultra-fast broadband and the completion of the Rural Broadband Initiative project.Grant Robertson: Does he agree with the statement of Pope Francis I that "Inequality is the root of social evil." given that inequality has risen in New Zealand on his watch and is it not time he got back to confession?Mr SPEAKER: Either of those two supplementary questions—the Hon Bill English.Hon BILL ENGLISH: I am bound to because the Pope of course is infallible unlike the member who is wrong. There is no evidence that inequality in New Zealand is increasing. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I do need a little more cooperation particularly from members to my left.Rt Hon John Key: Is it true that at confession you say sorry and if that is the case should Andrew Little not just say sorry?Mr SPEAKER: No. [Interruption] Order! [Interruption] Order! No that question—Andrew Little: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! All members need to settle down. [Interruption] Order! I am on my feet. That question is ruled out of order. I am now going to deal—[Interruption] Order! I am now going to deal with a point of order from Andrew Little if he still has one and it will be heard in silence.Andrew Little: Thank you Mr Speaker. There is a growing track record on the part of the Prime Minister of raising questions and sometimes points of order that are clearly designed to lead to chaos and disorder in the House. It is a bit rich for that member who has a track record of making things up and never acknowledging—Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member—[Interruption] Order! The member was on solid ground with the first part of his point of order. It was not a point of order from the Prime Minister; it was a supplementary question. I cannot anticipate what that supplementary question is going to be until it is stated and as soon as it was stated I then ruled it out of order. [Interruption] Order! Question—[Interruption] Order! My patience will run out very quickly today and some members may be asked to leave the Chamber."