Bradford Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Bradford Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:608;Page:5819] 
3.  
SUE BRADFORD (Green) 
 to the  
Minister of Finance 
: What is his response to Child Poverty Action Group’s statement that “the poorest children in New Zealand around 300000 of them do not even get a crumb” from last week’s Budget? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Minister of Finance) 
: 
 My response would be that the statement ignored a substantial number of initiatives particularly in the health education and housing areas. 
Sue Bradford 
: Why does the Government continue to discriminate against the children of beneficiaries who receive the unemployment sickness and invalids benefit and accident compensation claimants by not extending the child tax credit to all families who find themselves in identical financial circumstances? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: The Government is working on a package of changes in this area which it hopes to be able to announce next year depending upon resources. The possibility of restructuring family support into a single-tier payment is part of that. It would be essential therefore also to introduce other measures into the tax system that would preserve the balance when moving from benefit and into employment. 
Clayton Cosgrove 
: Could he reiterate the Government’s social spending priorities? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: The Government identified—and I indicated in my speech—assistance to lower and middle income families as a priority for next year’s Budget if the fiscal position permits. 
Katherine Rich 
: Further to Child Poverty Action Group’s statement that “the poorest children in New Zealand do not even get a crumb from last week’s Budget” can he explain what New Zealand’s poorest children hope to gain from the Government’s offer of $34 million to an overseas yacht race? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: Yes presumably the same benefits that Mr McCully foresaw when he supported substantial funding for the America’s Cup bid—that is an increased profile for New Zealand overseas in terms of its reputation; increased employment in New Zealand for tourism; increased employment from a future America’s Cup race here; and increased employment from the business of producing materials for America’s Cup yachts here and overseas. We are talking about a business that produced getting on for a billion dollars for New Zealand. 
Dail Jones 
: How can the Minister give these uncaring answers with regard to the 300000 children mentioned in the report bearing in mind that this Government has a surplus of $4 billion and that this Budget was remarkable only for the fact that he taxed old people’s sherry and port drinking? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: I assure the member that some young people drink sherry and port as well. I can certainly assure members that my wife did when she was a young person. On the question that the member properly raises he I am sure is aware—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I did not mind one or two interjections but the Minister is getting to the member’s question and I want to hear the answer. 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: I am perfectly willing to organise a seminar for the member on how accrual accounting works. If he thinks I have $4 billion spare cash he clearly does not understand how accounting works. 
Sue Bradford 
: How can the Government claim it is family friendly when the value of family support has declined by 60 percent since 1986 and this Budget yet again does nothing to address it? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: I accept the member’s assertion that this is a very high priority area which is why if there is sufficient headroom in next year’s Budget—and at the moment it looks to be around the $400 million to $500 million mark—increases— 
John Carter 
: Buying votes. 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: Oh now the member is saying it is buying votes to provide assistance for low and middle income families while his colleague was shedding crocodile tears only a few minutes ago. 
Sue Bradford 
: I seek leave to table a post-Budget briefing paper from the Child Poverty Action Group. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.