6. Question No. 6—FinanceNICOLA WILLIS (Deputy Leader—National) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 6—Finance6. NICOLA WILLIS (Deputy Leader—National) to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by his statement that savings and reprioritisations in Budget 2023 will for the most part go toward funding agencies' existing cost pressures" and what steps if any will the Budget include to reduce cost pressures for everyday taxpayers?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): For the first part of the question yes and for the second part of the question the member will just have to wait one more sleep.Nicola Willis: Why is he more concerned with the cost pressures facing Government departments than he is with the cost pressures facing Kiwi households?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I'm absolutely not. I'm extremely concerned with making sure that we support New Zealanders to get through the cost of living crisis that we have. One of the ways we do that is by making sure that there are public services available to support them through that—public services which the member on her current policy will not be able to afford to invest in.Nicola Willis: Have average effective tax rates paid by average-wage earners risen in the past six years and if so by how much?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: It is correct that as a result of inflation that has occurred. It has occurred differently for different taxpayers obviously but at an overall level the Government is in receipt I believe—last year I think it was about $600 million more as a result of that. Equally the tax take has increased significantly more than that because more New Zealanders are in work more New Zealanders are earning more and companies in New Zealand are making more money. The Government is making sure that we deliver to New Zealanders through a very difficult period of time and that includes paying for essential public services. I'm sure the member will have heard in Auckland business circles that those people also want to make sure we invest in public services.Nicola Willis: Isn't it true that New Zealanders are being hit by higher tax rates higher prices higher interest rates and yet he still refuses to adjust their tax?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The economic conditions that New Zealanders are in today are a result of many different factors which the member knows. We also know that it is the responsibility of the Government—as we have shown over the last five years—to support New Zealanders through difficult periods of time. I'm proud of the Government's record in doing that. It does require a difficult balancing act. The member will know from the conversations she's been having with Auckland business leaders that they too understand that.Nicola Willis: Is he aware that Auckland business leaders are concerned that the economy is going downhill fast—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! Order! Silence please. I ask the member to ask it again.Nicola Willis: —that the economy is going downhill fast that New Zealand has the biggest current account deficit in the developed world he's run the books into the red inflation is out of control and interest rates have climbed higher and faster than in our history?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I do spend a bit of my time with Auckland business leaders—possibly not quite as much as the member does—and they have expressed some concerns to me. One of those concerns was about the leadership of the National Party; I do admit that. I presume that's the same concern they express to the member.Nicola Willis: Which result does he think best characterises his wellbeing approach: New Zealanders having to wait longer for health services increasing violent crime the longest State house waiting list on record thousands of children growing up in motel rooms or New Zealanders enduring a prolonged cost of living crisis for two years?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I think the things that best reflect our wellbeing approach are the fact that 77000 children have been lifted out of poverty that we have built more than 10000 public houses that we've increased Pharmac's funding by 43 percent that we've extended free and low-cost doctors visits to children under 14 that we've expanded school-based health services to over 96170 students and that we've had 745000 sessions for mental health within general practice sites. I think our wellbeing approach is shown by the winter energy payment and the Best Start payment. I think it's shown by the lifts we've made to the family tax credit and that we've made to main benefits. I think it's shown by the free-trade agreements we've signed that are helping deliver jobs. I think it's shown by the 62 percent increase that we've seen in new entry to specialist practice for nurses occupational therapy and social workers. I think it's shown by the doubling of Pacific scholarships that we've had in our time in office. I think it's shown by the extension of Mana Ake across different regions of New Zealand. I think it's shown by what we've done through the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme—this insulated more than 100000 homes. There are numerous examples.Nicola Willis: Does the finance Minister appreciate that while he can stand there reading out a long list the reality for everyday New Zealanders who others in this Parliament are in touch with is a prolonged cost of living crisis real wages going backwards mortgage payments that in many cases have doubled a struggling economy and a bleak outlook? That is what his economic policies have delivered. Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I absolutely understand and appreciate what New Zealanders are going through. But the negative mind-set of the National Party means they don't appreciate the hard work New Zealanders have done to get us through COVID and the fact is that there is a Government that stands alongside those New Zealanders and doesn't run them down."