2. Question No. 2—Prime MinisterHon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 2—Prime Minister2. Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government's statements policies and actions?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes.Hon Simon Bridges: Does she stand by her statements last week that there is a slow-down happening everywhere" and any weakening in the New Zealand economy is due to global factors?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: If the member was listening to the last answer by the Minister of Finance that is certainly a significant factor. I also pointed out if I recall in my answers the connection that at least you've seen from other economies and the slow-down there—for instance Australia 0.2 percent; Canada; also the euro area and Japan all experiencing growth at a lower rate per quarter than what New Zealand is.Hon Simon Bridges: Does she accept the Australian Treasury's figures where last week they forecast global growth to be 3.5 percent for the next three years and the New Zealand Treasury's as well who stated again recently that our trading partners will grow at an average of 3.6 percent over the next five years?SPEAKER: Well it's slightly marginal asking the Prime Minister—Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Happy to respond. SPEAKER: Well part of it was in line. Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Of course our trading partners include our largest trading partner which is China which has had significantly higher growth rates on average than some of the economies like Australia and others. Even then China itself is experiencing some softening. At the same time trade tensions with the United States does play into the commentary we've seen from the likes of Christine Lagarde over why there is a slowing rate of growth among economies that we liken ourselves to like Australia. Rt Hon Winston Peters: Is it not a fact that global growth at 3.5 is actually down not up? Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again—and that's also taking into account those Asian economies where there has been significantly higher growth rates but on average when compared with—Hon Simon Bridges: You mean the ones we trade with? Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: —the likes of Canada and Australia also a significant trading partner—Hon Simon Bridges: That's the point; our trading partners.Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: —we have good economic fundamentals including our growth rates. SPEAKER: Before the member gets a supplementary I'm going to give him his final warning about inappropriate interjections. Hon Simon Bridges: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. In my clear submission they weren't inappropriate. SPEAKER: While as Speaker I have a lot of power in this House I think it would be foolish to argue that I have power over the international economy. Hon Simon Bridges: Isn't the chief economist of ANZ clearly correct when she said that so far negative implications of the global economy "Still belong in the risk camp"; "On the other hand the recent slowing in New Zealand GDP growth is more concrete."? Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I'm happy to draw from again what I assume will be the ANZ Business Outlook that the member is quoting from where they also said yes "GDP growth has moderated but it is still respectable" and "Sharply lower export intentions despite a well-behaved exchange rate suggests global factors are part of it."Hon Simon Bridges: Does she accept in addition to global factors that the weakening of New Zealand's economy is due to domestic factors and her Government's policies? Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I unlike the member believe that actually the global environment plays a significant part in the outlook amongst our businesses and their investment decisions and I think that's playing out in some of the commentary you see from the likes of the ANZ. I acknowledge that Westpac have also stated in their employment confidence surveys that "the survey still indicates that jobs are more plentiful now than at any time since the … Global Financial Crisis in 2008." Hon Simon Bridges: Does she accept Treasury's position in its March economic indicators report that businesses are telling them that factors such as weakened consumer sentiment rent inflation the rising cost of living and uncertainty around the capital gains tax have all weighed on the economy? Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Of course what we do want to see is that when we have issues like the cost of living you have a Government that is as responsive to those issues as possible and when we have concern for instance around global growth rates that we provide as much stimulus for our businesses as possible. That's why things like the R & D tax incentive and things like dropping ACC levies for businesses and customers make a difference. That's why doubling down on our trading base and pursuing trade agreements is important. That's why things like skills in trade training which is equally an issue raised by the business community is important. The $100 million capital injection to New Zealand Green Investment Finance is important; even starting again contributions into the Superannuation Fund—all of this makes a difference and is the kind of investment and focus that a Government should be making and this Government is making. Hon Simon Bridges: Why has rent gone up $50 a week under her watch? Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Because of the housing crisis that Government oversaw. Hon Simon Bridges: Does she think her policy changes such as extending the brightline test ring-fencing losses imposing more regulations on landlords or the prospect of a capital gains tax have had any effect on the rents? Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The member just asked me whether his originally brightline test was the cause of rental increase. That's probably more a question for him. I refer to the Governor of the Reserve Bank who has pointed out that the most significant thing that you can do to ease rental prices of course is increase supply—something that that Government never grasped and did absolutely nothing about. On this side we've invested in transitional housing public housing Housing First and affordable housing through KiwiBuild. All of that is about increasing supply and is a vastly different approach than the last Government's.Hon Simon Bridges: Can she answer whether her extension of the brightline test the ring-fencing of losses the regulation on landlords and the proposal of a capital gains tax have had any effect in her view on rents?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: You don't have to rely on my opinion which of course is no when I can instead quote the Governor of the Reserve Bank which is also pointing to the issue of supply.Hon Simon Bridges: With economic growth slowing in New Zealand how will her Government's well-being indicators announced today help New Zealanders get ahead?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: If the member is referring to what is being released by Statistics New Zealand the Indicators Aotearoa then of course that is something that the chief statistician has determined is necessary to get a wider sense of well-being for New Zealanders. I actually do think it's important that we understand the value of unpaid work that we know about our domestic violence rates that we clearly track suicide. I think these are all meaningful measures and of course yes our economic position is important and we continue to have strong fundamentals but at the same time how well our people do matters as well.Hon Simon Bridges: What use will the indicator on spiritual health be?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again these indicators—if the members wishes to call into question the independence of the chief statistician that is a matter for him. I would acknowledge that in the past when there's even been a hint of that his past Government jumped to the defence of the chief statistician and their independence. I point out that role again but I also point out that having well-being measures more broadly is important for us to understand the well-being of New Zealanders—Hon Simon Bridges: They're the Government's measures.Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: That is actually incorrect Mr Bridges.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Would not spiritual health be an important indicator if your whole political strategy is based on a wing and a prayer?SPEAKER: The Deputy Prime Minister knows that that question is out of order. He will stand withdraw and apologise.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Well I withdraw and apologise. I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. SPEAKER: I hope the member's not going to argue with me.Rt Hon Winston Peters: No no I'm not going to argue with you but I didn't impute that question to anyone unless you're going to believe me that when the glove fits you wear it. I don't know quite why I—Hon Simon Bridges: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. SPEAKER: No I'm going to deal with this one first. It didn't matter to whom the Minister was referring; the Prime Minister has no responsibility for that area. The member has been here about three times as long as Mr Bridges has been and I expect him—well he is now on his final warning for the day. Hon Simon Bridges: What use will the locus of control indicator be?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again I point out that there is actually a significant range of indicators that Indicators Aotearoa includes. The chief statistician does have independence. These are indicators generated by Statistics New Zealand and therefore I will not be calling them into question. The member clearly doesn't understand the difference between Statistics and Treasury and the fact that the living standards framework is a different thing. I'm sure the department would be happy to provide to the member a briefing if he is so interested.Hon Simon Bridges: When the economy is slowing how will measuring New Zealanders' spiritual health and locus of control help Kiwis pay their rent?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The member unfortunately does not understand that you can have a Government focused on strong economic fundamentals with some of the lowest unemployment in the last 10 years delivering surpluses as we have restarting investment in the Superannuation Fund and actually caring about the well-being of New Zealanders. I'm sorry; even though these indicators are the chief statistician's indicators I have to say that I don't think it's quite fair for the member to make a mockery of people's spirituality. That is a matter for them.Hon Simon Bridges: If it's so important what will the indicator on spiritual health be?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again obviously I'm not intricately involved in the development of them because they are not the Government's indicators. That member was part of a Government that dared not see the independence of the chief statistician questioned and nor will this Government. These are indicators for the department. It is their prerogative and I'll leave it at that.Hon Simon Bridges: Will the indicators help when people are struggling to pay 50 bucks more a week in rent each week under her watch?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: About as much as the last Government's Better Public Services targets and indicators. It all comes down to the actions not just what you have an indicator on. The member knows that.Hon Grant Robertson: In light of the earlier questions around the Australian economy does the Prime Minister agree with the commentator who in answer to the question "Is it true that the New Zealand economy is growing faster than Australia though?" answered "Yeah absolutely"—the Leader of the Opposition that is?SPEAKER: Order! Order! No responsibility."