2. Question No. 2—Prime MinisterRt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 2—Prime Minister2. Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON (Prime Minister): Yes I do and in particular I stand by this Government's action to restore responsibilities by Kāinga Ora tenants to respect their home and their neighbours if they want to remain in their State house. The status quo is not fair on neighbours faced with disruptive or abusive behaviour and nor is it fair on taxpayers who foot the bill for that house to fail to uphold the standards expected of that rent. And I have to say I agree with that member when he said that he didn't do enough on unruly tenants in six years and that's quite obvious because there are 335 serious complaints every month over the last three months and in particular there are three evicted tenants in the last year. So I make no apologies for being tough on making sure we make sure Kāinga Ora tenants are meeting their obligations.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Who made the decision to change the criteria for access to disability support entitlements and was the Cabinet consulted on that decision?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: What I'd say on that is that there has been no change to the disability services support budget from the budget that was set in your last Government. What there has been is a tightening up of the criteria of the modifications and equipment budget to make sure that disabled people are getting the direct support that they need.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Point of order Mr Speaker. The question was actually Who made the decision?" The Prime Minister has just indicated that there has been a decision made to change the criteria. I asked him who made that and whether Cabinet was consulted on it.SPEAKER: OK well ask it again. We'll pretend it hasn't happened and you can get another answer.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Who made the decision to change the criteria for access to disability support entitlements and was the Cabinet consulted?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: The ministry made the decision to tighten up the criteria for modifications and equipment which is a piece of the total disability services budget.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Did the Minister for Disability Issues seek additional funding to meet the shortfall in disability support funding before reducing the entitlement criteria?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Well what I want to be clear with that member about is that this Government is maintaining the total budget that the member's Government signed off in May last year. The total budget for disability services has remained unchanged. That is an area of pressure and that is something that we're considering for our Budget with respect to how we can better support front-line services.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Point of order Mr Speaker. That wasn't the question that was asked. It was actually a very straight question. You indicated yesterday that if I ask straight questions you'll have more sympathy. The question was very straight and simple: did the Minister for Disability Issues seek additional funding to meet the shortfall in disability support funding before reducing the entitlement criteria?SPEAKER: Yes but the answer that came—I did listen to your question and I listened to the answer—was that the Government is working a different process I suppose you might say with regards to a more comprehensive I think the term was full budget approach which I think does answer the question. It certainly addresses the question which as you know is all that has to happen.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: It cannot possibly address the question Mr Speaker. With all due respect it cannot possibly be addressing the question. The Prime Minister has indicated that the overall budget hasn't changed. The question of whether the Minister had asked for more money hasn't been addressed at all.SPEAKER: Well look—OK. The Prime Minister can have another crack at it.Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: As I said the total budget for disability support services remained unchanged from that member's previous Government commitment in the Budget last year—one. Number two: what I'd say to you is we've got a Budget process going between now and when the Budget is delayed and there's an understanding that yes we need better support for some front-line services. That will be considered as part of a normal Budget process which the member will well understand.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Did the Minister for Disability Issues ask for more funding to meet the shortfall?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: And as I've explained to that member we're in the middle of a Budget process where we are working through the needs of the Budget for May. That is part of that process. We are cognisant of the need for better front-line services support in a number of areas and we're working hard to deliver that.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: What's the estimated funding shortfall for disability support entitlements in the current financial year?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Again that is a discussion for the Budget process which is up and running right now.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: What's the estimated annual cost of reinstating interest deductibility for landlords once that policy is fully implemented?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Well what I'm very proud about that policy is making sure that it delivers for the renters of New Zealand. The Labour Party used to care about renters in New Zealand but they lifted rents up $170 per week—Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Point of order Mr Speaker. If the Prime Minister doesn't know he can say he doesn't know but to simply not answer the question and then attack the Opposition when the question is a very straight one—there was no assertion in it; it was simply a straight question as to what the cost of a Government policy which has been announced is.Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: The total cost is $2.9 billion over four years.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Why can Cabinet agree on tax cuts for landlords prior to the Budget as announced on 10 March and as indicated in the statement that he's just made but not on boosting disability support funding and instead cutting entitlements for the families who receive them?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: I disagree completely with that last part of that statement. What I'm saying to the member very clearly is that this Government is working to the budget that that member and his Government put in place last year. That is the total budget that we're working for. We have a new Budget coming at the end of May and we are considering a range of needs and a range of front-line services."