4. Question No. 4—FinanceDr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour—Christchurch Central) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 4—Finance4. Dr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour—Christchurch Central) to the Minister of Finance: What recent announcements has he made about Government investments to support workers and families?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): Today marks the first day that a host of initiatives come into force as a result of the investments made by this Government. These policies include an extension of paid parental leave to 26 weeks and an increase in the amount paid; free apprenticeships; pay boosts for early childhood teachers; the new farm debt mediation scheme; and a cheaper building levy saving homeowners and businesses money. The Government's plan to recover and rebuild from COVID-19 is focused on creating jobs and supporting households through these difficult times. These policies demonstrate progress on both our economic response for the global pandemic and for the long-term challenges we were tackling before COVID-19 hit. Dr Duncan Webb: How will these policies support New Zealand's recovery from COVID-19? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The policies coming into force today will play an important role in our plan to recover and rebuild. Apprentices in any industry or people wanting to train in targeted areas will have between $2500 and $6500 in costs per year paid for them making it easier for New Zealanders who want to train in industries where demand is expected to grow as the country recovers from COVID-19. Tens of thousands of New Zealanders are eligible. From today Budget 2020 comes fully into effect which will see investments in New Zealanders staying in work and creating new jobs including in construction infrastructure conservation and nature small businesses and sectors like tourism the arts and sports. I am proud to be part of a Government that is ensuring that all New Zealanders have a place in our plan to recover and rebuild. We've made the investments necessary to do that and support that plan and the policies coming into force today represent a key marker on our road to recovery. Dr Duncan Webb: What other recent announcements has he made about Government investments to support workers? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: This morning alongside the Minister for Infrastructure the Hon Shane Jones I announced a new package of infrastructure investments that will help create jobs right across New Zealand as part of our recovery and rebuild from COVID-19. The infrastructure fund—part of the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund—will see $2.6 billion invested in more than 150 projects in sectors including housing and urban development the environment transport community and social development. The investments are expected to help create more than 20000 jobs. This package will provide Kiwi workers with the confidence that the Government is backing them in this challenging economic environment and will support the construction industry with certainty. Kieran McAnulty: Would it have been possible to increase the—make the investment that you've talked about in your supplementary answers if we—SPEAKER: Order! Kieran McAnulty: Oh I apologise Mr Speaker—the Minister—SPEAKER: Start again. Kieran McAnulty: Thank you very much. Would it have been possible to increase paid parental leave and make the investment in infrastructure that the Minister outlined if the Government did not cancel the legislated tax cuts that were made by the previous Government? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: It is absolutely true to say that if a Government wants to invest in public services then it needs to make judgments about what is important. Is it important to invest in paid parental leave or is it important that members of Parliament here get tax cuts? We made the right decision.