Hayes John: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeHayes John: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 14 May 2014. Volume:698;Page:17821. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]3.JOHN HAYES (National—Wairarapa) to theMinister of Finance: How will the Budget tomorrow support a growing economy including jobs higher wages and delivery of better public services?Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance): New Zealand is making good progress. Our growth outlook is among the strongest in the OECD and I note its report overnight where it indicates that New Zealand is one of only two developed countries where income inequality has been relatively stable since the mid-1990s. Our public agencies are providing more elective operations are ensuring that more of our young people leave schools with qualifications and are keeping our communities safer. In the past year 84000 more jobs were created across New Zealand. On average wages are rising faster than the cost of living and in the past 12 months nearly 15000 New Zealanders were supported off welfare and into work. Tomorrow’s Budget will build on these gains.John Hayes: What Budget announcements including benefits to more New Zealand families has the Government already made?Hon BILL ENGLISH: Quite a number of announcements actually. Over the past fortnight we have announced $22 million over 4 years for community budgeting services to help families help themselves $10.4 million over 2 years to support front-line sexual violence services $20 million more over 4 years for extra support for children at risk of rheumatic fever an extra $6.3 million over 4 years for bilateral cochlear implants $20 million for an extra 6000 places in the apprenticeship reboot scheme and $3.5 million to provide $3000 for up to 1000 beneficiaries who are prepared to move to Canterbury for work. There have been early indications of significant inquiries to take part in that scheme.John Hayes: How does New Zealand’s economic outlook compare with that of Australia’s in the wake of last night’s Budget in Australia?Hon BILL ENGLISH: I think the Government there has been saying for a while that the outlook for the Australian economy is perhaps a bit better than if you listened to Australian commentary. The Australian Budget forecasts average growth over the next 3 years of 2.75 percent which is lower than New Zealand’s but still significant. It is focusing on a return to surplus and long-term debt reduction. Here in New Zealand the Budget will show a surplus. It will show that the country is on track for growth of around 10 percentage points over the next 3 years and forecasts are showing 172000 more jobs by 2018 with annual rises and the average wage reaching $62300 by 2018.John Hayes: What alternative approaches to economic management has he seen and what impact would they have on jobs and incomes?Hon BILL ENGLISH: I have taken particular note of those proposals that are likely to prevent the creation of new jobs if not get rid of existing jobs—that is opposition to oil and gas exploration on the East Coast and in Taranaki opposition to any further growth in our agricultural industries opposition to water storage opposition to the expansion of aquaculture opposition to filmingThe Hobbit in New Zealand and opposition to coalmining on the West Coast. It is not surprising that these are thepositions of Opposition parties because they are opposing everything. They have now promised low unemployment. So their recipe is that there will be no new jobs because they are against all growth but they are going to get unemployment down.