Robertson GrantHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): Thank you very much Madam Chairperson Tolley. I am just rising again after another half an hour of repetitive contributions from National Party members to respond to a number of matters that have been raised including ones that have already been raised.I just want to deal firstly with the questions from Simeon Brown and Tim Macindoe around the independent earner tax credit (IETC). For the specific factual matters: in 2016 516000 individuals claimed the independent earner tax credit. The estimation is that there were around 79000 people who appeared to be eligible but did not claim them at all. I have good news for members who've raised their concern about the bureaucracy around getting the independent earner tax credit. IRD advise us that it's likely in the future as its Business Transformation programme is rolled out that actually the IETC will be able to be automatically included in what people do.We're very confident that the IETC reinstatement is something that will be certainly appreciated by members. I don't really believe that the previous Government made a lot of effort to let people know that that tax credit existed for them. So well done to the 80 percent or so of people who did manage to take it up mainly I acknowledge at the end of the taxable year. But certainly it is an important thing.I do just want to let—I'm not allowed to say that. I do want to let Tim Macindoe know that—I would hate to compare Hamilton and Wellington; two quite different places for a range of reasons—certainly the voters of Wellington Central I know were very concerned about what had happened in the Budget package in terms of the independent earner tax credit and will be very grateful to see this restored.In order to respond to Brett Hudson's question families who would have benefited from the parental tax credit are in fact still better off with Best Start—$2200 maximum from the parental tax credit now becomes $3120 from Best Start in year one.Brett Hudson: Not over the same period Grant.Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: It's all about when it's fully rolled out Mr Hudson so that is in answer specifically to your question.I want to acknowledge Andrew Falloon for the amendment that he's put forward. He is raising a very important issue. The response I'd like to give at the moment to him is to just explain the rationale that the four weeks came from and just to make clear that four weeks is actually a longer extension than other Working for Families tax credits in terms of the unfortunate and tragic circumstances of the death of a child. So we've already extended it out here. I understand the point that the member is trying to make and I think you know in a debate like this it's easy to have a very large number of amendments that may or may not be seen to be serious; this one clearly is. I want to acknowledge the issue that the member is raising. No one in this House would feel comfortable with the idea of people who have suffered that tragic event being put under any pressure or feeling any pressure. We were attempting to recognise that by extending it to four weeks beyond what it is for other Working for Families tax credits. But I certainly acknowledge what the member is trying to do there.Amy Adams and indeed a number of other members have raised the question—and I have responded to parts of this before—around the Best Start abatement threshold. The $79000 figure was chosen to align with the cut-out point of the accommodation supplement. So it was designed to be alongside that—that's where the number came from.In terms of the abatement rate the member has highlighted the fact that abatement rates are tricky things to get right. This 21 percent figure was chosen—Hon Amy Adams: No 20.8—20.8.Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: —as a precise figure and the member should be delighted that the Government has worked so hard to get such a precise figure that balances targeting low and middle income families with minimising the impact on effective marginal tax rates. We did actually work very hard to make sure that we made this as least disruptive as possible in terms of the other tax credits that people are eligible for. So it is actually an instrument of precision. The former Minister was concerned that it was unexpected but it is actually to be exactly precise in order to ensure that we minimise the effect of marginal tax rates.In terms of responding to Amy Adams' question about the eldest child rate the bill doesn't have a lower rate for younger children. The bill's aligned for all children aged under 18 which actually is the proposal that National put through previously.So there have been a number of questions asked. They are beginning to be on the same theme which is really about whether or not members opposite support there being a Best Start tax credit that is available to all children in the first year of life and then targeted beyond that. There is not a lot of new material coming forward and all I can do is respond again to say that this Government is very proud of reintroducing such a family benefit.