3. Economic Programme—Fuel Tax Support for Families and Transport Infrastructure SpendingHon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterEconomic Programme—Fuel Tax Support for Families and Transport Infrastructure Spending3. Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government's policies and proposals?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes.Hon Simon Bridges: What is her justification for gutting $5 billion from regional New Zealand in order to make public transport cheaper for some Aucklanders?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I'm glad—SPEAKER: Order! No. I'm going to ask the Leader of the Opposition to ask that question again in a parliamentary form.Hon Simon Bridges: What is her justification for reducing by $5 billion regional New Zealand funding in roading in order to make public transport cheaper for some Aucklanders?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I'm glad the member asked that question. We're not. In fact what we are doing is instead of spending money that 4 percent of transport users use as that Government did we're investing in regional and local roads—in fact doubling the amount of investment in regional and local roading.Hon Simon Bridges: Is the State highway improvements class reducing by $5 billion over the next 10 years and the various public transport classes increasing by around $5 billion; if so why is she so afraid of owning that fact?SPEAKER: Order!Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Mr Speaker—SPEAKER: No the member will resume her seat. That question is ruled out. [Interruption] No the Prime Minister can't respond. I let the Deputy Prime Minister last week and we got into all sorts of trouble.Hon Simon Bridges: Is the State highway improvements class declining by $5 billion over the next 10 years and the various public transport classes increasing by around $5 billion; and if so why doesn't the Prime Minister state that clearly?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As someone who was intimately involved in transport that member should know that that class was focused on urban centres not regional roads. We're decreasing an area that our regional road users did not benefit from in order to double the funding that they will benefit from.Hon Simon Bridges: Why are people in Northland the Waikato and mid-Canterbury having to pay 12c a litre more for their petrol yet are seeing no benefit at all as their key projects which would have supported local jobs and growth are stalled cancelled or postponed for ever?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Again we are doubling the investment in regional roading. For people who live in those areas they will see a benefit. Can I also point out that that last Government increased excise by 17c—17c—and they spent it on urban centres and roads that 4 percent of road users use.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Speaking about investment and the soundness of investment for road users—Hon Gerry Brownlee: Start with a question word!SPEAKER: That has been my ruling in the past and as a result of that the Opposition have just lost three supplementaries. The Deputy Prime Minister will start his question again preferably in a question form.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Addressing the issue of financial investment and value for money is it a fact that of the three toll roads in this country—Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Addressing" is not starting a question with a question word.SPEAKER: If the member wants me to be absolute in my tightening up for all members I'm willing to take that approach.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Yesterday twice you pulled the Leader of the Opposition up for exactly that. Now surely the Deputy Prime Minister who often touts his vast and significantly more experience than the Leader of the Opposition should know that.SPEAKER: OK right I will rule that question out. I'm sure the Deputy Prime Minister will ask it again in the proper format.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Could the Prime Minister advise as to how the latest expenditure compares with recent roading expenditure in this country?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: When it comes to the regions as I've said it represents a significant increase. When you compare that to Simon Bridges' legacy as a transport Minister he reduced funding to the West Coast by $54 million Taranaki by $74 million Southland by $56 million to $39 million Otago by $110 million Northland by $125 million Hawke's Bay by $88 million Gisborne by $49 million and the Bay of Plenty by $179 million.Hon Simon Bridges: How does a $70 million increase in the regional improvements category nationwide or $5 million each across the New Zealand Transport Agency's 14 regions in any way compensate for taking away $5 billion from State highway construction?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I will point out again—State highway construction benefited urban centres and took money out of the regions. And as I've said we are doubling the funding to the regions and local roads. Our focus is on access for regional New Zealanders as well unlike the abysmal track record of that member who cut funding for the regions. [Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! Come on we're not seals.Hon Simon Bridges: How will announcing petrol tax increases on Auckland motorists of 25c a litre in just her first six months as Prime Minister help families supporting their kids?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Because if they'd elected National they'd be facing up to 20c based on the last advice.Hon Simon Bridges: How many hours will someone on the minimum wage in Auckland have to work in order to come out ahead after they've filled up the car for the week?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: A lot less given we raised the minimum wage to $16.50 on 1 April. We intend to raise it by 2021 to $20 and more than 300000 families will on average get $75 extra a week from this Government because we are focused on lifting the wages of low- and middle-income earners.Hon Simon Bridges: What is she actually doing to help families with their costs of living given that the Government has already made renting more expensive and made petrol more expensive and her pre-Christmas Families Package took $1000 a year in tax cuts away from them?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: If he's referring to the fact that we're getting rid of letting fees or the fact that we've put $5.5 billion into low- and middle-income earners' pockets starting from July or that we're bringing in the winter energy payment for those who are on low fixed incomes or the fact that we've increased the minimum wage and we did all of that in 100 days—I think people know where our priorities are and they're not with the top 10 percent of income earners.Hon Simon Bridges: How does a petrol tax increase square with her Government's promise to New Zealanders to not increase taxes this term?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Labour's tax policy stated that alcohol petrol and tobacco levies will be adjusted as per normal Government practice and it's in writing. What we said on the trail of course was—amongst the scaremongering of the National Party we had to dismiss their claims that we were bringing in new top tax rates because it was clearly incorrect.Hon Simon Bridges: Isn't this a broken promise on a core election issue—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Order!Hon Simon Bridges: —only months since the election?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: No and I would also point out again that the last Government when they left office were considering a 10 to 20 percent increase in road user charges and excise. I'd say that road users are better off with this Government because we're spending it more wisely and we're spending less.SPEAKER: Order! I just want to make it absolutely clear—and it could have been quite a few more—that members on my right must not interject when the Leader of the Opposition or in fact any other member is asking a question."