4. Question No. 4—FinanceHon AMY ADAMS (National—Selwyn) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 4—Finance4. Hon AMY ADAMS (National—Selwyn) to the Minister of Finance: Does he consider that all taxpayer money is being spent wisely?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): I certainly hope the member's not asking me to pass judgment on the spending habits of all taxpayers although my own purchase of jet planes is possibly not wise spending. But of course it is to answer the member's question this Government's approach that expenditure is undertaken wisely. Ensuring that that happens is an ongoing process. For example where we have seen areas of expenditure that we do not think wise we have reprioritised them as we did through Budget 2018. That exercise in reprioritisation is ongoing.Hon Amy Adams: Is a $2.8 billion spend on a first-year - free tertiary programme that has delivered fewer students good value for money?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The fees-free programme is an excellent investment in making sure that all New Zealanders get access to post - secondary school education and training wherever they come from. It's a critical part of making sure that we are preparing for the future of work and ensuring that people who have never undertaken post - secondary school education or training whatever age they are have access.Hon Amy Adams: If that policy is removing barriers for students accessing tertiary education why are fewer of them now accessing tertiary education than previously?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: It is removing barriers and we hear on a regular basis from people around New Zealand who tell us about communities where there are people who wouldn't have considered going on to tertiary education until they were able to access it in this way.Hon Amy Adams: Does he accept that that $2.8 billion fees-free tertiary programme is regressive?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: No.Hon Chris Hipkins: Can the Minister of Finance confirm that much of the cost of that programme is money the Government would have to outlay anyway through the student loan scheme had fees not been abolished?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Absolutely. I can confirm that and I can also confirm the statement made in the House by the Minister of Education last week I think which of course indicates the large amount of money we don't get back from the student loan scheme. This is in fact a very good investment.Hon Amy Adams: Given that the Minister denies that the policy is regressive does he not understand that it primarily benefits people from higher-income families and those who will earn higher incomes over their lifetime?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I don't believe it's regressive because I want to see every New Zealander—whether or not they're from a rich background or a poor background whether or not they're the son or daughter of a truck driver or whether they're already in work and want to retrain—having that opportunity.Hon Chris Hipkins: Can the Minister of Finance confirm that those with higher levels of qualifications do earn more money throughout their working life and therefore pay more tax?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Yes indeed I can confirm that. What we want is all New Zealanders earning higher wages. One of the critical ways of getting there is for them to get more training more skills and more qualifications.Hon Amy Adams: Given the Minister's answer to Mr Hipkins' question how much additional money has the Government booked for the fees-free policy over and above any savings from student loans?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I don't have the detail of that information with me today. I'm sure that if a question goes down to the Minister of Education he will be able to answer that.