5. Superannuation Fund—Government ContributionsGRANT ROBERTSON (Labour—Wellington Central) to the Minister of FinanceSuperannuation Fund—Government Contributions5. GRANT ROBERTSON (Labour—Wellington Central) to the Minister of Finance: Does he agree with the Economist Shamubeel Eaqub that Government should be in the business of making long-term investments"?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Finance): I would answer that question by saying that it depends on what we are talking about. A good example of where we are making long-term investments is the progress we have been making in social investment through the Better Public Services programme in areas like reducing long-term welfare dependence supporting vulnerable children and providing better skills for our young people. This investment is worth it because of the benefits that it can bring in terms of New Zealanders living healthy and productive lives. That example I absolutely agree with.Grant Robertson: Why did the Government break its 2009 commitment to resume contributions to the New Zealand Superannuation Fund when there was an operating surplus?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Well the Government as the member may recall if he has been following these things made a commitment that we would resume contributions to the Superannuation Fund once net debt was back below 20 percent of GDP.Grant Robertson: No that was later.Hon STEVEN JOYCE: That is right. That is the current commitment that we have made Grant. I appreciate you are the trainspotter of the Opposition but that is where we are at.Grant Robertson: Is the New Zealand Superannuation Fund correct when it says that the fund is $20 billion worse off because his Government has failed to contribute one cent to the fund since 2009?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Well I think you can make all sorts of hypothetical and theoretical suggestions but the Superannuation Fund of course does not exist in isolation. In fact New Zealand had a thing called the global financial crisis (GFC) and also another thing called the Canterbury earthquakes Grant. Those things all had an impact on the Government's accounts and the Government therefore made a decision to focus more on the here and now for that period than on the Superannuation Fund. I think that the people of Canterbury and also vulnerable people around New Zealand are pleased at that decision.Grant Robertson: Are tax cuts a higher priority for him than restarting contributions to the Superannuation Fund?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: No they are not a higher priority but I do consider it a priority to think about hard-working Kiwis who pay—Grant Robertson: Ha ha!Hon STEVEN JOYCE: You laugh at them Mr Robertson; they are not laughing. They work hard they provide for their families they meet the cost of everyday living and actually this Government does focus on them. I appreciate that Grant Robertson thinks he can always spend their money better than they can; we do not.Grant Robertson: What kinds of short-term priorities lead him to believe that it is a good idea to take $20 billion from Kiwis' future retirement—bearing in mind they are the very people carrying record household debt? Is solving New Zealand's long-term problems something for somebody else to deal with?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I am sorry; the member's maths is hugely challenged because it has not been taken at all. We have decided that there are priorities that New Zealanders have in terms of meeting the costs of the Canterbury earthquakes and including also providing for people during the tough times of the GFC which I have to say the public appears to have supported for a considerable period of time. If the member is saying that instead of doing those things we should have put the money in the Superannuation Fund he is entitled to make that argument but actually I think he is wrong.Question No. 4 to MinisterRt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First): In all the excitement I forgot to seek leave to table evidence under the Official Information Act (OIA) of meetings with the Prime Minister Treasury and the police commissioner regarding police resourcing desperately being sought at the time by the then Minister of Police one Judith Collins.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that particular information released under the OIA. Is there any objection? There is none.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House."