3. Superannuation Fund—Government ContributionsGRANT ROBERTSON (Labour—Wellington Central) to the Minister of FinanceSuperannuation Fund—Government Contributions3. GRANT ROBERTSON (Labour—Wellington Central) to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by his statement in relation to the New Zealand Super Fund when surpluses return we will resume contributions"; if not why not?Hon PAULA BENNETT (Associate Minister of Finance) on behalf of the Minister of Finance: I shall try to channel the Minister of Finance: yes I do stand by the statement at the time it was made and as I said in Budget 2013 Budget 2014 Budget 2015 Budget 2016 and in reply to the member's question on 18 October and the member's question yesterday and as was made clear in the National Party's 2014 election policy contributions will resume when net debt falls to 20 percent of GDP.Grant Robertson: Why has the position changed on restoring contributions to the Superannuation Fund from what it was in 2009 to what it is today?Hon PAULA BENNETT: To be fair because we were probably a year in to the global financial crisis we did not know how deep it was going to be and how long it was going to go for and then made our position very clear in 2013 and have made it very clear every year since then and repeatedly.Grant Robertson: Why is he prepared to make tax cuts a higher priority than restarting contributions to the New Zealand Superannuation Fund?Hon PAULA BENNETT: Those are complete hypotheticals that the member is putting out there as to what this Government's priorities are. He might just have to wait and see.Grant Robertson: Why has the Prime Minister continually said that tax cuts are a higher priority than restarting contributions to the Superannuation Fund? As Minister of Finance does he have any concerns about that priority?Hon PAULA BENNETT: As the Minister of Finance I have repeatedly said for some time that when the Government returns a sufficient Budget surplus and can contribute genuine savings rather than borrowing then National will resume contributions to the Superannuation Fund. If the member would like to ask the Prime Minister where his comments come from he is sitting right here but I notice that no one has got a question for him today. He is feeling quite missed out today.Grant Robertson: I seek leave of the House to be able to ask the Prime Minister the question that the Associate Minister of Finance has just invited me to ask.Mr SPEAKER: No. There are 12 questions submitted and accepted for the day. I am not allowing an extra question. Chris Hipkins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. There is precedent in the House for a member to seek leave to ask an additional question. In fact Phil Goff was asked a question by leave of the House despite being Leader of the Opposition.Mr SPEAKER: I am prepared if the member wishes to seek leave again to put the leave and the House will decide.Grant Robertson: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I seek leave of the House to be able to ask a question to the Prime Minister as invited by the—Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought for that course of action. Is there any objection? [Interruption] Order! I do appreciate the comments but I did say "Is there any objection?". There is objection. I appreciate the member tidying that up for me.Grant Robertson: Are tax cuts a higher priority for him than restarting contributions to the New Zealand Superannuation Fund?Hon PAULA BENNETT: The member is just going to have to wait and see what the Government's policy is going into next year for Budget 2017.Grant Robertson: In light of the cost of superannuation outstripping the amount of money the Government intends to invest in education why will the Minister of Finance not take his head out of the sand and restart contributions to the New Zealand Superannuation Fund so New Zealanders can have security in their retirement?Hon PAULA BENNETT: Because I have made it really clear that a key focus is to get debt below 20 percent and that is what we are focused on. When that happens then we will be recontributing. Hon Simon Bridges: You're going around in circles Grant.Grant Robertson: No it is all going well Simon. Can the Minister of Finance tell the House whether the New Zealand Superannuation Fund's estimate that it would have a fund of $50 billion today had the Government kept up its contributions is correct and why is she so proud of having denied future generations more than $10 billion?Mr SPEAKER: There are two questions there. The Hon Paula Bennett can answer either.Hon PAULA BENNETT: No because those are based on hypotheticals and—Grant Robertson: No it's not. It's on your website.Hon PAULA BENNETT: —not what the policy was and actually—yes well that is their opinion. But actually there is this thing called Government policy and for Government policies that is where we are and that is where we will remain."