1. Economic Programme—Cost of Living GDP Regional Fuel Tax and Rental CostsHon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader—National) to the Prime MinisterORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSEconomic Programme—Cost of Living GDP Regional Fuel Tax and Rental Costs1. Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader—National) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her statements and policies?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Deputy Prime Minister) on behalf of the Prime Minister: Yes.Hon Simon Bridges: How can the Prime Minister say it is unadulterated rubbish" that the new Auckland regional fuel tax and national excise tax will increase costs for an average family by up to $700 a year when it's calculated on the Government's own website figures of suburban Auckland families' travel and 25c per litre which is what the Government is legislating for?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: To begin with on behalf of the Prime Minister to even make that calculation given the number of people who live in Auckland is extraordinary if that member is relying upon it. The second thing—Hon Grant Robertson: It's $5 a week for the average family.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Yes it's $5 a week for the average family but here's the real point: last night in this House every member over there was shouting out for a regional tax for their own region whilst opposing Auckland's. Hon Simon Bridges: When the Prime Minister said yesterday "every sane sound economist" disputes that the regional fuel tax and excise tax increases will increase costs on Auckland families by hundreds of dollars can she name one?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of the Prime Minister—who was on fire yesterday I might add—can I say that we've done the equations on the costs to families under the previous regime's rule and under ours and it's a dramatic improvement for families today.Hon Simon Bridges: So is the reality that when the Prime Minister said yesterday every "sane sound economist" disputes the hundreds of dollars she was talking arrant poppycock?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of the Prime Minister what we heard yesterday was an extraordinary statement. For example what we heard yesterday was that we were going to get $1000 per year tax cuts for New Zealanders and families right? Hon Simon Bridges: You voted for them. SPEAKER: Order!Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: No no. That's what—SPEAKER: The member—the Deputy Prime Minister will resume his seat. I think three times yesterday the member was subject to warnings for exactly the same thing and it is a matter as I've said of showing some leadership in the application of the rules in the House and I expect him to do it. Darroch Ball: No surprises there. SPEAKER: Order! Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Let me say—SPEAKER: No resume your seat. The member will stand withdraw and apologise. Darroch Ball: I withdraw and apologise. SPEAKER: And the National Party get two extra supplementaries.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Yesterday there was a claim—and he made it—that $1000 per year tax cuts equals $40 per week. That suffers from some basic arithmetic. If you for example divide 1000 by 52—that's the number of weeks in a year—you get $19.23 and not $40. Hon Simon Bridges: Does the Prime Minister stand by her position yesterday that her Government's policies will lower rents? Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of the Prime Minister yes.Hon Simon Bridges: How on earth can she say that when her own Government advisers estimate rents have already increased an average of $23 per week since she's been in office and when additional taxes such as the brightline test and the ban on negative gearing will inevitably be passed on to renters this term? Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of the Prime Minister—because for the last six months we have been setting out policies that are now going to be rolled out and implemented that will arrest nine years of decay and neglect and then when you compare rents you compare it with earnings as well and that's why we're able to make the claim we're making. Hon Simon Bridges: Why as she said yesterday is the New Zealand Herald at least to some extent incorrect to report that the cost of fruit and vegetables is set to rise because of higher fuel prices increasing minimum wages and increased costs of rent?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Could I just say that anticipated price rises of food are not a result of the policies and actions of this Government—a fact that was identified by the very authors of the Otago University report which the member based his false assumptions on. Hon Simon Bridges: Well how can Retail New Zealand be wrong when it said last week in that New Zealand Herald report "There are cost pressures across the board it's pretty much everything that is likely to be impacted … Fuel prices and therefore freight and transport costs the increase to minimum wage and rising property prices are expected to push up the cost of goods." and aren't at least some of those factors absolutely because of Government policies? Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Every day every week every month and every year we've had that for the last 50 years. The real issue is what are the Government's policies to address them and he put his finger on one of them when he talked about the increase in wages. Hon Simon Bridges: Is the Prime Minister really seriously trying to tell us that the increases in fuel prices that are coming from taxes being passed in the House this week by the Government that the increases in rental costs that her policies absolutely have a significant effect on and that other cost increases such as significant minimum wage increases are having no effect on costs on hard-working Kiwi families? Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of the Prime Minister who has always been serious can I just say that the member's neglecting for example the Families Package which will put $75 per week in the hands of 385000 families or for example GP visits for 600000 New Zealanders by up to $30 in terms of assistance and dare I say it every child under 14 years of age getting free doctors visits as a result of this Government. Hon Simon Bridges: Why does she believe as she said yesterday that GDP will be higher than forecast when the numbers are released tomorrow? Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of the Prime Minister could I say she's been patient and he should be patient and wait one more day. Hon Simon Bridges: Can we just confirm the Prime Minister definitely thinks that the GDP figures will be higher than forecast tomorrow?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Could I just say on behalf of the Prime Minister no such statement was made. And let me say it very slowly: unlike the gloom-and-doom merchants over there the sharemarket is the highest this country has ever seen and dare I say it it is the best performer in the world. Those are real indicators not the blind jealousy and envy of people denied power rightfully."