11. Question No. 11—Small BusinessKIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour) to the Minister for Small BusinessQuestion No. 11—Small Business11. KIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour) to the Minister for Small Business: What action has the Government taken to help small businesses be paid promptly?Hon STUART NASH (Minister for Small Business): In September 2019 the Minister of State Services and I directed Government departments to cut their repayment times to support New Zealand businesses. The target then was that 95 percent of domestic invoices are to be paid within 10 business days by June 2020. Yesterday in response to COVID-19 the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance wrote to all departments with an instruction to bring that target forward. All departments have been instructed to pay their bills within 10 working days with immediate effect. We've acted on prompter payments in response to talks with Business New Zealand with banks small businesses tourism operators and others. It's a tangible sign of action and we are leading by example in our response to this global issue.Kiritapu Allan: What other action has the Government taken to help small businesses respond to the impacts of COVID-19?Hon STUART NASH: The Government is teaming up with the business community as it responds to the impacts of COVID-19 on the New Zealand economy. The Minister of Finance and I have met with the Prime Minister's Business Advisory Council the tourism association and Xero. This morning I met with representatives of the fishing industry in Nelson the largest fishing port in Australasia. There have also been talks with Retail New Zealand. It's clear from these discussions that a tailor-made response is required and a one-size-fits-all response is not what is needed or recommended. That is why in addition to faster payment times by Government agencies we are also working with Xero to get real-time information about the impacts on business; working with the banks to ensure they are being proactive with their customers; working with Inland Revenue which is also entering into instalment arrangements and waiving penalties on a case by case basis; and investing an extra $4 million in the Regional Business Partner programme to help businesses on the ground.Kiritapu Allan: What other action has the Government taken to help small businesses be paid promptly?Hon STUART NASH: As I said in the House last week late payments from large organisations to smaller suppliers can be crippling for these businesses. I have announced that I am prepared to legislate if payment terms and payment times for small businesses do not improve. I've asked affected groups to comment on the idea and look forward to hearing that feedback after public consultation closes next month. The discussion document seeks the public views on legislation that would require a maximum payment term of 20 days to ensure small businesses are reimbursed for their services more quickly and the right for small businesses to charge interest on overdue invoices and debt recovery fees for late payment. This Government remains focused on protecting jobs and supporting workers and businesses.Hon Todd McClay: Mr Speaker.Hon Kris Faafoi: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I seek leave to correct part of an answer to a supplementary I gave during oral questions.SPEAKER: Was there a supplementary question there?Hon Todd McClay: Supplementary.SPEAKER: Todd McClay we'll have that and then we'll—Hon Todd McClay: Thank you Mr Speaker. To the Minister: will he support National's call to defer the 1 April minimum wage increase to help small businesses cope with the economic effects of the COVID-19 virus?Hon STUART NASH: No.