3. Fiscal Strategy—Budget Policy Statement and Half Year Economic and Fiscal UpdateRINO TIRIKATENE (Labour—Te Tai Tonga) to the Minister of FinanceFiscal Strategy—Budget Policy Statement and Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update3. RINO TIRIKATENE (Labour—Te Tai Tonga) to the Minister of Finance: What reaction has he seen to the Budget Policy Statement and Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update that were released last week?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): I've seen some positive reactions from the banking sector. The ANZ said In our view … we are constructive about the prospects going forward …"; "the overarching message from today's figures is that there is room to accommodate [lifts in spending and operating plans] right now." The ASB said "The HYEFU and the healthy [fiscal] forecast operating balances shows that the Government has remained committed to the Budget Responsibility Rules." The BNZ said "Any fuss about the HYEFU might particularly nonplus international observers. [It looks] very good. [It] conforms to the promises made by [the] Finance Minister".Rino Tirikatene: What other reactions has he seen from economic commentators?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I have seen numerous positive comments from a variety of sources. PricewaterhouseCoopers said "The Government is projecting significantly higher allowances for capital expenditure with schools housing and transport being the main winners." Rod Oram says "Treasury's forecasts in its half-year economic and fiscal update will be comforting to Government and business alike."Rino Tirikatene: Has he heard reports of any other reactions including shortness of breath resulting from the release of the Budget Policy Statement and the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Surprisingly I have heard one from Barry Soper who said "It's fair to say National was a bit like a fish just landed and gulping for air."Hon Steven Joyce: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Given the selective quoting of the comments from the banks I seek leave to table a document that says "Economists cast doubt over Treasury's—Mr SPEAKER: Order! The name of the document who it's by its date and whether it's publicly available.Hon Steven Joyce: It is by Hamish Rutherford it is dated 12 December and yes it is publicly available.Mr SPEAKER: The member will resume his seat and stop trifling with the Chair.Hon Steven Joyce: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. In terms of trifling with the Chair we've just had a list of questions and answers in this House that you've previously ruled out as Ministers responding in terms of reactions to their particular announcements which aren't actually reports. So I understand completely except that perhaps I was bending the rules slightly in terms of my point of order. But it was literally in response to the approach that was taken and allowed to be taken during that question.Mr SPEAKER: I just want to remind the member of a saying that I'm sure many of our grandmothers told us "Two wrongs don't make a right".Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I refer to your rulings or advice to the House last week on what reports could be requested of Ministers by way of questions from the Opposition either primary or supplementary and your concern that some of the questions being asked by another party who are part of the Government to one of their Ministers also requiring comment on a report were not to progress. So I'd ask you simply to have a look at what you were ruling last week and then consider the exchange that's just taken place with Mr Robertson and see whether or not there is a little bit of leniency being applied to Mr Robertson that wasn't applied last week.Mr SPEAKER: I am happy to look at that. I will say that I have been listening pretty carefully but I think the questions that were ruled out were people seeing reports for things before they had responsibility as opposed to around things that they had presented to this House. But I will check that."