3. Question No. 3—FinanceHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 3—Finance3. Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by all of the statements actions and policies of the Government in relation to the New Zealand economy?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): Yes in their context—particularly when they are backed up by solid broad-based growth data like the GDP figures out today showing the strongest quarterly and per capita growth since June 2016.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Is he saying he's pleased that after we've had five years under National when New Zealand grew faster per person than Australia we have now fallen well behind?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The member might be interested to know that our quarterly growth in the June quarter of 1 percent was higher than Australia's.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Will he today rule out applying a capital gains tax to the 2.8 million Kiwis with KiwiSaver accounts in New Zealand?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The working group's report was released today. It is their report; it is an interim report. What we are focused on is making sure that we get a fairer and more balanced tax system than the one we inherited.Hon Paul Goldsmith: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: The Rt Hon Winston Peters.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Can the Minister confirm—SPEAKER: Sorry a point of order the Hon Paul Goldsmith.Hon Paul Goldsmith: I asked whether he'd rule out something and he made no reference to that whatsoever.SPEAKER: The member can ask it again. I think the inference to be taken was pretty clear but have another go.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Thank you. Will he today rule out applying a capital gains tax to the 2.8 million Kiwis with KiwiSaver accounts in New Zealand?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I repeat: what's happened today is that the independent working group have produced their report. We will take our time to work through that report and ensure that we get a tax system at the end of it that means that all New Zealanders pay their fair share of tax.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Can the Minister confirm with today's truly outstanding growth figures that the ship of State is now strong and not floundering from a leak?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I most certainly can because what today's GDP numbers showed was broad-based growth across all but one sector measured showing that while we have a long way to go to reach a more productive and sustainable economy the coalition Government and our confidence and supply partner have got us finally on the right path.Hon James Shaw: Can the Minister explain how GDP growth can be as strong as it has been reported today when the apparent sole determinant of GDP growth namely the ANZ business confidence survey is at record lows?SPEAKER: I am going to allow the question but I'm going to warn the Minister who asked it that irony is not allowed as part of questions.Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I believe that's probably because the GDP data is based on real data in the real economy and we will continue to focus on that.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Why will he not rule out putting more tax on Kiwi savings?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Because today there was an interim report from the Tax Working Group. What we want to do is encourage more New Zealanders into saving and in fact on this side of the House we're particularly proud of the introduction of the KiwiSaver scheme which has actually meant that millions of New Zealanders now have a nest egg for their retirement. I would back our record on this side of the House when it comes to saving over that member's party.Hon Paul Goldsmith: How does he think taxing KiwiSaver more with a capital gains tax will help Kiwis get ahead?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I'm not saying that. What I am saying is that on this side of the House we have a proud record of ensuring that millions of New Zealanders actually have a nest egg for the future. We're determined to continue to grow KiwiSaver and support more New Zealanders to come into it.Hon Damien O'Connor: Can the Minister confirm that strengthened primary industries including dairy forestry and fisheries drove the exceptional economic growth we've seen in the figures released today?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I can confirm that agriculture forestry and fishery lead the growth up 4.1 percent in the quarter and that this was boosted by strong dairy production. In fact agriculture had its strongest quarter of growth since September 2014. Hon Paul Goldsmith: Does he think it would be fair to tax capital gains from say a Northland couple's rental house worth $300000 but not from John Key's home in Parnell?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: If the member is suggesting that a capital gains tax should be applied to the family home that's a very interesting development indeed.