2. Question No. 2—Prime MinisterHon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 2—Prime Minister2. Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government's statements policies and actions?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes.Hon Simon Bridges: Does she agree with Labour Party finance spokesperson Grant Robertson who said in September 2017 There will be no new taxes or levies introduced in our first term of Government."?SPEAKER: Sorry can I ask the member to repeat the question?Hon Simon Bridges: Does she agree with Labour Party finance spokesperson Grant Robertson who said in September 2017 "There will be no new taxes or levies introduced in our first term of Government."?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Of course the member is reflecting the Labour Party tax policy which of course did include reference however to those existing and the general praxis of excise increases—increases that apply to for instance cigarettes and excise around fuel. Of course the member will also be aware that we did campaign on things like a levy at the border in order to be able to through a tourism levy fund critical investment in conservation and tourism infrastructure which had been severely under-resourced under the last Government. Those were all things included in our tax policy.Hon Simon Bridges: How much additional tax will New Zealanders have to pay as a result of the four new taxes her Government imposed in Budget 2019?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again I reject the premise of the question.Hon Simon Bridges: Does she dispute that at the Budget we saw petrol tax increases tourist tax GST on overseas roaming and WorkSafe levies?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Excise is not a new tax. New Zealanders don't pay the tourism levy. Again the idea that we just simply remove any equity around roaming—I can't see that this is necessarily the biggest issue that New Zealanders are facing.Hon Simon Bridges: How much will the petrol tax increases tourist tax GST on overseas roaming and WorkSafe levies raise?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again if the member wants to put a question on notice I can provide that additional detail. Again though if the member wishes to now argue that he doesn't support petrol excise I can tell him that under his Government it raised $4.9 billion when he was in office because they increased excise more often than we have.Hon Simon Bridges: Doesn't she think she should know how much extra tax she is imposing on New Zealand families before she does it?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The member is wrong; he is quoting of course levies that do not apply to New Zealanders.Hon Simon Bridges: Does $1.7 billion this term in additional petrol taxes and road-user charges not apply to ordinary New Zealanders?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: If the member was speaking solely about petrol I have seen some of the numbers that he has raised and I question some of his estimates around the $1.5 billion or thereabouts as inaccurate. However again I would make the point that the member raises issues like road safety. The member presumably also wants to invest in alternatives to high-emissions transport and give cheaper more reliable options in congested Auckland for people to get around their city. If the member chooses not to fund that through excise which is exactly where excise goes I would like to hear his alternative because he left a funding gap in his transport plans.Hon Simon Bridges: Is she concerned that the performance of manufacturing index last week dropped to its lowest level since 2012 something Hamish Rutherford described yesterday as "stoking concern"—SPEAKER: Order! The member will ask a question. He doesn't need a description from an outside commentator or a commentary to ask a question.Hon Simon Bridges: Is she concerned that the performance of manufacturing index last week dropped to its lowest level since 2012 and what does she think that says about the state of the New Zealand economy?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I also acknowledge that at the same time exports are up. We're seeing some record increased figures—for instance our lamb exporters; 600000 pallets due to be exported from our kiwifruit producers. So a very different story there. Overall though we have to acknowledge that we are operating in an international environment where there is a degree of uncertainty. That's reflected in some of even Treasury's forecasts around our GDP projections and it's reflected in for instance the forecasts for both Australia and China—our partners who we tend to compare ourselves to economically—seeing a slowdown in their growth.Hon Simon Bridges: Is she aware that even a small drop in GDP relative to Treasury forecasts will mean her Government will miss its debt target unless it cuts spending or raises tax?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I thank the member for acknowledging that we are meeting our debt target; it's taken him a while to get to that place and we are. I would also acknowledge we just rely on the Treasury forecasts in the same way the last Government did.Hon Simon Bridges: What are the GDP figures—and I'll be clear; I mean GDP figures not Crown account figures—going to say this Thursday?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The member well knows we all have to wait for them.Hon Simon Bridges: Does she understand that more taxes costs and debt won't help turn a weakening economy around?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: What I understand is that when you're facing a downturn one of the best things that you can do as a Government—counter to what that Government did—is invest. We know that there is stimulus going into our economy—that's reflected by some of the GDP growth estimates that are being made—because we are investing in our people we are investing in our building environment we're making sure that despite a downturn we're keeping the houses being built we're putting money back into families' pockets through the Families Package and wages as a result are going up. These are all things that make a difference at a time when we're experiencing global slowdown.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Can I take it then the Prime Minister is against inheriting the Government debt figure and then increasing it by over 800 percent?SPEAKER: Order! That is not something she has responsibility for or has any indication that it's part of her planning.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. With respect I am asking the Prime Minister for a fundamental principles statement as the leading administrator—the Prime Minister of this country; the principal Minister of this country—on a question of national debt. There can surely be few things as important as that.SPEAKER: Is the member seriously suggesting that there is a proposal to increase debt by 800 percent which would be the responsibility of the Prime Minister?Rt Hon Winston Peters: Can I in terms of clarity say this: well the Prime Minister can clear that up and let us all know so that we can go on more comfortably assured that fiscal management is in the right hands. That's all I'm asking.SPEAKER: I can accept that but the danger is that if I accept that question any ridiculous proposition can be put to the House by any member.Rt Hon Winston Peters: With respect you might say it's a ridiculous proposition but that's precisely what happened under a previous administration.SPEAKER: And that's exactly what I thought we would get to for which the Prime Minister has no responsibility.David Seymour: Can the Prime Minister tell the House what portion of all income tax is paid by the top 5 percent of income tax payers?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I'd want to make sure I was giving the member a precise figure based on the last tax receipts and income from IRD—if the member wishes to put it on notice. I would however acknowledge of course the member has recently announced his own tax policy and look whilst it's good to have a wide-ranging debate on these issues we're simply of the perspective that when it comes to those on the lowest incomes we do not wish to see them paying more tax.David Seymour: Does the Prime Minister think it is fair that 5 percent of taxpayers pay a third of all income tax?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Of course that's proportionate to the income that they receive.Chris Hipkins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. You've previously banned party branding from boxes that sit on the desks in front of us in the Chamber. I think previous Speakers have also banned party branding that is worn in the Chamber. Is that a ruling that you continue to uphold?SPEAKER: Yes. I'm looking round—David Seymour: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: Well that is not to the point where I think it is—David Seymour: I would like clarity. Is he referring to this?SPEAKER: To what?Hon Grant Robertson: His badge.SPEAKER: Oh no. Sit down Mr Seymour. There's been a habit over a number of years for people on this side of the House who have had Labour Party life memberships to wear those badges in the House. That's never been restricted and something so small that I can't tell what it is from this distance is not something I'm going to object to."