4. Question No. 4—FinanceHon SIMON BRIDGES (National—Tauranga) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 4—FinanceHon SIMON BRIDGES (National—Tauranga): Does he stand by all of his statements and actions on new spending in Budget 2022?SPEAKER: Have one more go.4. Hon SIMON BRIDGES (National—Tauranga) to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by all of his statements and actions on spending in Budget 2022?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): Yes in the context in which they were made and undertaken.Hon Simon Bridges: In light of his statement to me last week that a big chunk" of his $6 billion of new spending in Budget 2022 is "making sure that we reform the health system" does he accept that this expensive Labour Government restructuring won't deliver a single new hip or cataract operation won't speed up immunisation or emergency department waiting times and won't deliver any more ICU beds in and of itself?SPEAKER: The Minister can answer one or more of the four questions.Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: No I do not accept that. What I do accept is that New Zealanders have learnt through the COVID-19 pandemic the importance of a well-funded joined-up health system. That is what we will be delivering. We cannot go on with the things that have failed. The National Party as ever would like to do nothing but on this side of the House we believe New Zealanders deserve better.Hon Simon Bridges: How could he tell me with a straight face last week that not spending billions on an expensive restructure is equivalent to "health cuts" when the restructure itself won't deliver any more services or benefits other than to highly paid Wellington consultants?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The member is just plain wrong. On this side of the House we know what it takes to invest in the health system unlike the Opposition over there and whatever spin Mr Bridges wants to put on it a Government that invests in the healthcare system of New Zealand is one that is investing in the future of New Zealand. Every single New Zealander knows the National Party's record on health: cut cut cut.Hon Simon Bridges: Is he really saying that either everyone agrees with every last dollar of his $6 billion in new spending—the biggest Budget spend ever—or it's simply signing up for health cuts?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: No. What I'm saying is the National Party have a track record of heath cuts and on this side of the House we know that the answer to delivering New Zealanders the health services that they deserve is not to do nothing; it's actually to get on with the job of supporting people. And I would add: if the Opposition say to us that there is no inequity in health that we don't need to do more for Māori and that we don't need to do more for rural New Zealand well that's fine but that is not correct.Hon Simon Bridges: How about he actually just deliver more services rather than wasting a whole lot of money on fancily paid Wellington consultants?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Over the last four years I have been working hard with the Minister of Health and with the Ministry of Health to make up for the fact that the previous National Government had two years where they decided there needed to be no capital investment in health—none; none whatsoever. That is the legacy of that side. On this side we're going to get on with delivering to New Zealanders the health system that they deserve.Hon Simon Bridges: Won't his "big chunk" of his unprecedented $6 billion spend-up that's to be spent on health restructuring—SPEAKER: Order! Order! Now I have been pretty flexible with the member and I think he knows that but I am going to haul him back into asking straight questions. Thank you.Hon Simon Bridges: Won't his "big chunk" of his $6 billion in new spending that's to be spent on health restructuring simply result in uncertainty and disruption in our health system and on top of that more inflationary pain for New Zealanders so that the best thing to do is scrap that wasteful spending right now in advance of his Budget 2022?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: No and none of David Farrar's talking points are going to work Mr Bridges because New Zealanders want health spending that makes sure that they're able to live their lives well that makes sure mental health services are available—that's the commitment of this Government. The do-nothing typical National Party approach is what put New Zealand's health services at risk. We've been fixing it for four years; we're going to keep fixing it.SPEAKER: There's a lot of people who want to take calls from their seats but I think we'll go on to question No. 5."