2. Question No. 2—FinanceHon AMY ADAMS (National—Selwyn) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 2—Finance2. Hon AMY ADAMS (National—Selwyn) to the Minister of Finance: Is it a goal of this Government's economic policy to make it easier for New Zealand families and businesses to get ahead?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): Yes.Hon Amy Adams: How does he think having 65000 people go on strike in the last 12 months alone more than double what we've seen over the last nine years combined will be affecting the abilities of families and businesses to get ahead in New Zealand?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I imagine for many of those people who are undertaking that strike action it's because they and their families experienced nine years where they didn't get the benefits of economic growth. On this side of the House we're doing something about that by lifting the minimum wage and through the Families Package and paid parental leave. All of those things will make a real difference to the well-being of those families so sadly neglected by that member and her party.Hon Amy Adams: How does he think taxing people more for their petrol is the right thing to do at a time when New Zealand families and businesses are facing higher costs and more transport strikes than they've seen in a decade?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: On the matter of transport strikes the member should look squarely in the mirror to the model that her Government put in place that led to a race to the bottom in contracting that said that the way to be able to provide transport services was to pay bus drivers less—some of the lowest-paid people in the country. On this side of the House we actually think that bus drivers and others who deliver people to work every day deserve to be paid decently.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Just to be clear considering that the Employment Relations Amendment Bill is yet to reach its second reading who is responsible for the present policy settings under which these strikes are happening?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: It's quite clear that all of the strikes that are taking place are taking place under the legislation that the previous Government put in place. On this side of the House we're actually trying to make it fairer.Hon Amy Adams: Does he see a relationship between the rising cost of living and the fact that 20000 more people are now needing food hardship grants than at this time last year?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: What I see is a population of low and middle income New Zealanders who were neglected for nine years by the previous Government who are finally getting some assistance from this Government through the Families Package. We've said many times it will take more than one year to undo nine years of neglect but we're getting on with the job.Hon Amy Adams: What's the Government going to do then for the 75 percent of New Zealand families who are worse off under that Government's families income package than the families income package it replaced as they too struggle with transport strikes and rising fuel costs?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I'm sorry to say that on this side of the House we don't believe that people like us in here needed a $1000 tax cut when there are low and middle income families who are struggling. We are very proud of the fact that we redirected that funding to low and middle income New Zealanders because that's how we'll reduce inequality.Hon Amy Adams: Is the fact that Government Ministers are not concerned about rising fuel prices more to do with the fact that all of their petrol is paid for by taxpayers?SPEAKER: Order! No. The member will ask the question again. That was out of order on two counts. Hon Amy Adams: Is the fact that this Government is not concerned about rising fuel prices and their impact on families because they're not connected to the real cost of living pressures facing families in this country?SPEAKER: I'll let it go but we will at some stage review with the member the assertions that she is making. Members cannot rely on unsubstantiated assertions to hang a question off. Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: We are concerned about fuel prices. That's why we're actually doing something about the majority of the increase which relates to the margins that oil companies have; that's why we're going to give the Commerce Commission powers to look into it; and it's why we put in place a Families Package. The former Minister might be missing her BMW; on this side of the House we're trying to get it right.