3. Budget 2018—Impact on New ZealandersHon AMY ADAMS (National—Selwyn) to the Minister of FinanceBudget 2018—Impact on New Zealanders3. Hon AMY ADAMS (National—Selwyn) to the Minister of Finance: Is he confident that each of the decisions made as part of Budget 2018 and all savings made will improve the well-being of New Zealanders?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): Yes. The Government has made a commitment to put improving the well-being of New Zealanders at the heart of what we do. As part of this we have reviewed policies and spending to ensure that taxpayers are getting the best value for money and that the policies will benefit the greatest number of people as every responsible Government would do. For example the Government does not believe that spending $8.8 billion on untargeted tax cuts that would have given $1000 to her or to me or $327 million per kilometre on the world's most expensive road without any cost-benefit analysis are good examples of value-for-money spending that improves New Zealanders' well-being. I can say one thing for certain: I do not think New Zealanders' well-being is enhanced by adherence to trickle-down economics.Hon Amy Adams: Can he confirm then that the savings he's made and the Budget bids refused or scaled back will not lead to a reduction in the level of protection provided to vulnerable New Zealanders?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I am extremely confident that the package of measures we put through in the 100-day plan and in Budget 2018 will in fact enhance the lives of vulnerable New Zealanders.Hon Amy Adams: Why then is this Government overseeing the Department of Internal Affairs over coming months slashing by one third the number of fully trained inspectors investigating the creation and distribution of child sex offence imagery leaving more New Zealand victims unable to be identified and protected and more New Zealand perpetrators undetected?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I don't have any direct ministerial responsibility for those matters and I would have to check the accusation that the member's just made.Hon Amy Adams: Given his Government and the Prime Minister's commitment stated today to standing by our international obligations is he at all concerned that these cut backs will leave New Zealand in breach of its obligations to the global alliance combating the sexual abuse and exploitation of children online?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Again that is a matter of detail within a portfolio area. I encourage the member to put a question down to the Minister responsible. What I can say is that this side of the House stands proudly on our record of protecting and enhancing the lives of vulnerable New Zealanders and there are plenty of initiatives in the Budget that will show that.Hon Amy Adams: When he made his Budget decisions did he think that it was appropriate that as a result of these changes under his watch the only South Island office of this unit working with South Island victims of online sexual abuse will now no longer include a fully trained female investigator given that those investigators have to have the most delicate and intimate discussions with young female victims of child sex abuse?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The member started that question by talking about the Budget that will actually be announced tomorrow. I invite her to wait for the details of that.