3. Question No. 3—FinanceHon AMY ADAMS (National—Selwyn) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 3—Finance3. 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 to get ahead?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Acting Minister of Finance): Fakalofa lahi atu. Yes. This Government believes we all win when we grow our economy for the benefit of all New Zealanders.Hon Amy Adams: With petrol prices hitting record levels will he then reconsider the petrol excise increases and the regional fuel tax in light of comments by groups like Auckland Action Against Poverty that these taxes are taking food off the table of some of our poorest families?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: To make the essential transport investments that are needed in Auckland and around the rest of the country after nine years of neglect we will do what we need to do and to close of course the Auckland Transport Alignment Project gap which exploded under Simon Bridges' watch as the Minister of Transport. I also note that the previous Government increased petrol excise duties by 17c per litre.Hon Amy Adams: Well given that answer is he aware that the previous Government actually increased fuel excise taxes on average less than 2c a year as well as abolishing the Auckland regional fuel tax compared to this Government that's increasing fuel taxes by 24c in just three years?SPEAKER: I'll let the member answer it only on the basis that it hooks into a supplementary answer that he gave.Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: OK. We saw petrol prices explode under that Government's watch with excise duties up 17c per litre and still they were behind on infrastructure funding. We are committed to getting Auckland moving to making sure that trucks can carry goods and that people can get on public transport to get to work. We know that it costs the economy on average—well it's been estimated—a billion dollars a year in lost productivity because of the neglect under that Government's watch.Hon Amy Adams: Does it help Kiwi families to get ahead to impose housing policies that the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) have told the Government are likely to raise rents?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I don't have information on that in front of me—it's obviously a wee way from the primary question—but I'm happy to answer in greater detail if the member wants to put it down in writing.Hon Amy Adams: Well has he read MBIE advice that said the policies—SPEAKER: Order! Order! I probably have but you'd better ask the Minister.Hon Amy Adams: Has the Minister read MBIE advice that said that the policies of this Government are also likely to decrease the security and affordability of gas supply and possibly electricity and how will higher gas and electricity prices help Kiwi families get ahead?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: This Government is committed to moving towards a more sustainable economy that benefits all New Zealanders and we make no apologies for that. We've also got policies that will fill skills gaps and maintain New Zealand's place in the world. We have desirable policies on this side of the House. We're out to benefit the regions and grow the economy and we make no apology for that.Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern: Has the member seen advice around what difference the healthy homes guarantee and insulating homes for families will make abolishing letting fees will make and increasing Working for Families bringing in Best Start and the winter energy payment and lifting the minimum wage will make to low-income families?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Without a doubt this Government has policies that will benefit low and modest income New Zealanders and is putting them in place. We know that hundreds of thousands of New Zealand families will benefit from the Best Start package for example which will see those families $75 each better off when the policy is fully implemented.Rt Hon Winston Peters: On the effect Minister of petrol price increases whose calculations does he believe: those of Jami-Lee Ross or Amy Adams?SPEAKER: Oh no. I—Hon Amy Adams: So why won't the Minister just acknowledge that with new taxes pushing the cost of petrol to record levels rising rents and electricity price rises looming New Zealanders are going to find it harder and harder to get ahead under this Government?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Inflation remains controlled and below the Reserve Bank target mid-point. Wages are rising faster than inflation meaning that most Kiwis are seeing real-term increases in their incomes. Of course we acknowledge that too many Kiwis are doing it tough after years of neglect but no real economic data that we've seen moves us away from our goal of delivering a productive sustainable and inclusive economy where all New Zealanders share in the benefits of growth. I would note that Statistics New Zealand said that on an annual basis fruit and vegetable prices fell; meat fish and poultry prices fell; clothing prices fell; and household appliance prices fell.