6. Tax System—Potential ChangesGRANT ROBERTSON (Labour—Wellington Central) to the Minister of FinanceTax System—Potential Changes6. GRANT ROBERTSON (Labour—Wellington Central) to the Minister of Finance: Why did he say recently I wouldn't be characterising anything we do primarily as tax cuts" and would he still agree with former Prime Minister the Rt Hon John Key that a meaningful tax cut package would require "$3 billion I reckon"?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Finance): In answer to the first part of the question: because the statement accurately characterised my thoughts. In regard to the second part of the question as I said to the member's very similar question on 5 April—and I quote myself for the member—I agree with the former Prime Minister that $3 billion would certainly represent a meaningful tax cut but so would a $1 billion $1.5 billion or $2 billion package depending on how it was targeted and timed.Grant Robertson: Is the reason then that he would not particularly call what he is doing a "tax cut" that he knows that tax cuts that change the tax brackets for inflation since 2010 would deliver close to $18 a week to him but only $2.38 a week to someone earning $48000 a year?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Well the member is desperately trying to prejudge what is in the Budget but I bring him good news: he has only 16 days to wait until Budget day.Grant Robertson: I seek the leave of the House to table a Parliamentary Library document calculating the value of a tax bracket change to a Cabinet Minister of $18 a week and to a person earning $48000 of $2.38 a week.Mr SPEAKER: I will put the leave. Leave is sought to table that Parliamentary Library information. Is there any objection to it being tabled? There is not. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Grant Robertson: Will the changes that he is planning to make in the Budget in terms of Working for Families make up for the $700 million per year or $2.8 billion over 4 years lost by families that was the result of his Government's cuts to Working for Families in 2011?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The member is well ahead of himself. The Budget of which he is trying to tell me what I have already written in is apparently not until 25 May which is 16 days from now. I just invite Mr Robertson to be patient and see what turns up in the Budget.David Seymour: Can the Minister at least assure New Zealand taxpayers that tax changes in this year's Budget will be more substantial than Michael Cullen's now infamous "chewing gum tax cuts"?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: That brings to two the number of members who are well ahead of themselves in terms of the upcoming Budget on 25 May. It is good that they are excited but I would temper their enthusiasm by saying that the Minister of Finance whom I am acquainted with has not made any commitment in regard to any elements of the Budget package on 25 May.Grant Robertson: Did his Government in 2011 lift the abatement rate on Working for Families and drop the income rate at which the abatement kicked in thereby cutting out at least $448 million worth of spending on Working for Families?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I am not sure that I would agree with the member's characterisation of the effect but the Government did make some changes through the global financial crisis and the Canterbury earthquakes because it inherited a prediction from Treasury as a result of the previous Government's rather Santa Claus - like settings on a range of things that we would have a decade of deficits from 2009 onwards. We made significant changes—Grant Robertson: Absolute rubbish.Hon STEVEN JOYCE: He may say it is absolute rubbish because he has after all dissed Statistics New Zealand before now and now he can add Treasury.David Seymour: If the Minister is not prepared to say what is in the Budget can he confirm that there will be no adjustments to tax rates?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Well that will be—Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. You will realise that there is a serious constitutional problem with this question because the Minister of Finance is prevented by longstanding tradition even to the extent of someone resigning in the UK way back in the late 1940s on this very matter. The Minister of Finance cannot answer that question and I think you should perhaps bring the young chap up to date and tell him to get in line and get in the zone of what is allowed here.Mr SPEAKER: I do not need any more. The question is in order and the Minister can address it.Hon STEVEN JOYCE: For the benefit of the member and also to the member opposite and the member opposite over there it is not long to wait until the Budget on 25 May. In the meantime I will keep my counsel on what exactly is in it.Grant Robertson: Can he at least reassure New Zealanders that his families package will make up for the $2.8 billion that has been cut from Working for Families as a result of the changes his Government made?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: What I can do is reassure New Zealanders that this Government is absolutely and constantly aware that all the money that it receives with which we get to vote in the Budget comes from the pockets of hard-working Kiwis and it is very careful with it. Mr Robertson's road to Damascus conversion of concern for Kiwi taxpayers is very recent and I think New Zealanders will understand that."