Robertson Grant: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeRobertson Grant: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 19 February 2015. Volume:703;Page:1763. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]3.GRANT ROBERTSON (Labour—Wellington Central)to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by his statement that he would post a “meaningful surplus” in 2014/15; if so what approximate dollar figure would constitute a meaningful surplus?Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance):Yes I stand by that statement. In answer to the second part of the member’s question in the current circumstances of low interest rates and inflation that could be heading to zero any surplus will be meaningful.Grant Robertson: Why then if any surplus at all would be meaningful did he and John Key make that promise the centrepiece of two election campaigns and would not a failure to post a decent surplus actually mean he had broken his promise to New Zealanders?Hon BILL ENGLISH: The centrepiece of our election campaigns were the outstanding leadership of the Prime Minister and the very good management of the economy which is helping lead to higher incomes and more jobs. We are on track to surplus but of course it would be easier to achieve that if that member stopped organising protests in Wellington against any constraint on the Public Service as he regularly does.Jami-Lee Ross: What progress can the Minister report on the Government’s track to surplus?Hon BILL ENGLISH: Our record is one of steady improvement in the movement towards surplus in what I might say were somewhat trying circumstances. For instance a deep recession followed by an earthquake where the Government has contributed $15 billion to the rebuilding of Christchurch. So I can report that from a large deficit of around $18 billion current forecasts have us headed towards surplus over the next 2 years.Grant Robertson: In light of that answer why then knowing about the global financial crisis and the recession did he promise to New Zealanders for two elections in a row that a meaningful surplus would be reached in 2014-15?Hon BILL ENGLISH: Because we believe that is achievable. We believe that uniquely among developed countries we are able to protect the most vulnerable not reduce any entitlements improve our public services and get better results maintain stability in our public services without large-scale change and get back to surplus. I admit to the member it is a bit difficult but we are just about there.Grant Robertson: Can the Minister confirm his answer to the primary question that a surplus of $1 will constitute a meaningful surplus in his world?Hon BILL ENGLISH: Yes. As I said any surplus will be meaningful but they are likely to be larger if that member stops organising protests against restraint in the Public Service as exhibited by him here in this photo with his megaphone protesting outside Statistics New Zealand against reasonable constraints.Grant Robertson: Does the Minister think he might be able to manage a “$1 Bill” surplus because he is overcharging New Zealanders $178 million because the ACC worker and earner accounts are fully funded and why will he not give New Zealanders a fair go and not overcharge them for ACC?Mr SPEAKER: The Hon Bill English—either of those two supplementary questions.Hon BILL ENGLISH: I do not agree with any of that. As I said to the member the Government has been consistently conservative in the way it has handled ACC levies and we have had smaller increases than officials recommended and smaller decreases. But even in that context by 1 April next year we will have reduced ACC levies by $1.5 billion per year the equivalent of a moderate tax cut for every household in New Zealand.Grant Robertson: Given that he is satisfied with a $1 meaningful surplus will he now not give New Zealanders back the $178 million that he has ripped off them from overcharging them for ACC?Hon BILL ENGLISH: ACC is giving back something like $450 million of ACC levy cuts on 1 April including a reduction of $130 for every New Zealander who registers a car. That is not a bad effort.