3. Question No. 3—FinanceNICOLA WILLIS (Deputy Leader—National) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 3—Finance3. NICOLA WILLIS (Deputy Leader—National) to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by all of his statements related to Government tax and spending decisions?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): Yes in the context in which they were made and undertaken. I particularly stand by the balanced and responsible approach that we have taken to supporting New Zealanders in dealing with the cost of living while investing in strong public services and taking a responsible stance as affirmed last night by Fitch Ratings agency. I also stand by the way we have provided credible costings to show how we will pay for what we do unlike others who have taken a tax and burn approach funded by foreign speculators.Nicola Willis: Why after six long years has he failed to adjust tax brackets even once even as Government spending has ballooned by 80 percent?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: All New Zealanders know that when it comes to putting a budget together you have to find a balance. In our case we have had to face a pandemic where we have supported households and businesses to be able to come through that in better shape than most other countries in the world. We've lifted the wages of doctors of nurses of teachers. We've employed more doctors nurses teachers and police in our system. These are the things that Governments do. We have to balance that with all of the other considerations and make sure that we keep a strong fiscal position for the future. This is a balanced approach that the Government has taken. It is properly costed. It does not rely on fantasyland economics such as the member does.Nicola Willis: Why can he always find funding for his pet projects but he repeatedly denies meaningful tax relief for the squeezed middle of New Zealand slogging their guts out being crushed by his cost of living crisis?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Because on this side of the House we make sure that what we put in front of New Zealand is properly costed adds up and that we can pay for it. We're not relying on our promises for an increasing number of foreign speculators to buy a dwindling number of houses in our housing market—that's the kind of voodoo economics the member is currently presenting to New Zealanders.Nicola Willis: Hasn't he lost all credibility when his books are in such a mess that he's been left scrambling for savings that just two weeks ago he said would amount to cuts; and isn't the reality here that this finance Minister has lost control and it's time for new economic management?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: We could take that lyrical expression from the member or we could take the view of an independent ratings agency who last night said that the New Zealand economy was in good health had robust governance standards and a robust policy framework and who supported the Government's strong track record of prudent financial management. So we could listen to Trickola Willis" or we could listen to Fitch.Nicola Willis: Why should Kiwis have confidence in a name-calling Minister of Finance when his big plan his audacious idea for beating the cost of living crisis is a few cents off some carrots?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: This Government over the course of the last couple of years has stood by New Zealanders as they have faced increased cost of living pressures. We've lifted the family tax credit. We've lifted benefits. We've lifted the childcare assistance rates. We've lifted the minimum wage. We've helped people stay in their jobs. That's the kind of real action that actually supports New Zealanders during a cost of living crisis. And every single one of those initiatives—opposed by the National Party.Hon David Parker: Can the Minister of Finance confirm that the assumptions as to revenue from a stamp duty to foreign buyers are braver than Charles Upham—and he had two VCs?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The assumptions are heroic in the extreme because what they rely upon is that there will be thousands of foreign buyers every single year adding on to the previous year trying to buy a dwindling number of homes. It simply doesn't add up.Nicola Willis: Who is more heroic: the finance Minister who even though he completely disagrees with it is blithely selling the GST reduction plan or is in fact the former Minister of Revenue more heroic because he resigned out of principle knowing the tax plans don't work?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Both David Parker and myself are proud to be part of a team where we have delivered to New Zealanders sustained economic growth high employment low unemployment and low debt compared to the rest of the world. I think it's somewhat ironic for the member to try to dish out lessons on team work as she behaves as the co-leader of the National Party.Nicola Willis: Why should New Zealanders believe he stands for anything when he is defending a GST policy he does not believe in he's scraping together last-minute savings that he doesn't believe in and he's campaigning for a Prime Minister who killed the one thing he did believe in the wealth tax?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The "Johnsonville Amateur Dramatic Society" are really missing out on the member's work today. I'll tell you what I'm proud of over here. I'm proud of being part of a Government that got New Zealanders through COVID that supported businesses and households that's lifted 77000 kids out of poverty that's got 60000 more apprentices that signed free-trade agreements with the UK and the EU and has got on with the job of governing during a really difficult time. I stand proudly on the record of this Government on the economy and I look forward to the member and I debating that across the country."