1. Question No. 1—FinanceHon AMY ADAMS (National—Selwyn) to the Minister of FinanceORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSQuestion No. 1—Finance1. Hon AMY ADAMS (National—Selwyn) to the Minister of Finance: Is it a goal of this Government's economic policy to make it easier for New Zealand families to get ahead? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Acting Minister of Finance): Yes. This Government believes we all win when we grow our economy for the benefit of all New Zealanders. Hon Amy Adams: Is it a sign that New Zealand families are finding it easier to get ahead that there are now 9000 more people on job seeker benefits and 20000 more seeking food hardship grants than there were this time last year? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I'm advised that that's the same rate as it was last year. Hon Amy Adams: Well will the Government commit to cancelling its further planned petrol tax increases should the price of petrol reach $2.80 a litre as some are predicting to help ease the cost of living burden on New Zealanders? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: The New Zealand fuel excise is actually one of the lowest in the OECD while the pre-tax cost of fuel is actually the highest. I'd point out that the price of Brent crude has almost doubled since the middle of last year and petrol companies have increased their profit margins by 10 percent in the last year alone. This Government is committed to looking after those who are struggling including young families and if you look at our Families Package it puts $5.5 billion towards those who are struggling including 384000 New Zealand families who will be $75 a week better off when that policy is fully rolled out. Hon Amy Adams: Is he aware that if petrol prices increase by another 30c a litre the Government will be collecting just as much extra revenue from the GST alone as it would from its next petrol tax hike; and if so why is the Government going to be double-dipping from New Zealanders' pockets?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: If that member no longer believes in petrol excise then she needs to tell New Zealanders which transport projects she is going to cut.Hon Amy Adams: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Well the Minister's asked me a question and I seek leave to answer it.SPEAKER: Well the member seeks leave. Ministers are not meant to ask questions of the Opposition but the member seeks leave to answer it. Is there any objection? The Hon Amy Adams.Hon Amy Adams: Thank you Mr Speaker. Well I can tell the House that a re-elected National Government certainly would not be putting up the tax on petrol in New Zealand—Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: A point of order—[Interruption] Order! Order! A point of order the Rt Hon Winston Peters.Rt Hon Winston Peters: The member was granted leave to tell us which projects the National Party would cut. She is not addressing that. That's the only reason she got leave so could she now address the issue: which projects is she going to cut? [Interruption] SPEAKER: Order! The member will do that she will do it now and she will not do it in a disorderly way.Hon Amy Adams: A re-elected National Government would not be funding a trolley bus up Dominion Road from petrol taxes on road users and it would not be putting up the cost of petrol at a time—SPEAKER: Order! Order! Hon Chris Hipkins: Point of order.SPEAKER: No no—I'm going to deal with the member first. The member made a comment which was not a response to the question. She will stand withdraw and apologise.Hon Amy Adams: I withdraw and apologise.SPEAKER: There will be no further supplementaries.