4. Question No. 4—FinanceANDREW BAYLY (National—Port Waikato) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 4—Finance4. ANDREW BAYLY (National—Port Waikato) to the Minister of Finance: What concerns if any have businesses raised with him around the economy and their ability to operate over the next 12 months?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): A very timely question given the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion today showed a sharp improvement in both business confidence and demand in firms' own business." in the June quarter. Over recent months businesses I've engaged with have highlighted the benefits for them from the Government's approach of going hard and early against COVID-19 and the investments that the Government has made such as the wage subsidy scheme. However given the negative tone of the member's question I can report that businesses do have concerns linked to the stronger than forecast economic activity we are seeing. These include labour supply issues global supply chain issues and whether the stronger than expected economy might lead to earlier than expected interest rate rises. The Government is aware of these concerns. We are working with businesses on them and we are supporting businesses in the next stage of the recovery including through initiatives such as free apprenticeships and targeted trade training. Having said that the largest concern among businesses remains the potential impact of COVID-19 which is why we continue to take a strong and careful approach to the border and our elimination strategy.Andrew Bayly: Why is the Government not using the 2000 managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) rooms that are reportedly sitting empty each day to bring in workers that businesses say they desperately need to continue to operate?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: In reference to the first part of the question that should be directed more to the Minister for COVID-19 Response—Hon Chris Hipkins: It's also wrong.Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: —and he informs me in the House somewhat loudly that the member is wrong. In answer to the second part of the question we have brought thousands of critical workers in through our MIQ system.Andrew Bayly: Supplementary.SPEAKER: Order! Before I let the member go on there are some rules and understandings around authentication which are applied very strictly to primary questions but there's also a reliance when a fact is asserted that it can be substantiated if asked. If the member has the evidence that's fine. Actually there was no need to put the number in the question. The question would've stood on its own without the number. Again if I was interfering more than I currently do I would've asked the member to rephrase the question. So I'm just going to ask the member now to ask his next supplementary.Andrew Bayly: Just a point of order Mr Speaker. So two things just in response to that: first of all I used the word "reportedly" quite deliberately. That was in reference to a One News article only published on 3 July and I took that figure directly from that article. So that's why I used the word "reportedly" and I was very clear about that.SPEAKER: OK right well the member can ask his next question but I'll just reiterate: none of that was necessary for the sense of the question.Andrew Bayly: What does he say to restaurant operators in New Zealand who are switching off their lights today in protest at the Government's failure to use the large number of empty MIQ rooms to address the critical worker shortage?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Well obviously I reject that part of the question that the member is using there at the end. What I do say is I know how hard hospitality businesses in New Zealand work. Many of them have had a very tough time over the last year. The Government has been proud to stand alongside them and support them to the tune of for example from the wage subsidy scheme over $1.3 billion. We continue to work with them including extending the 10000 working holiday and supplementary seasonal worker visa holders' time in New Zealand. We've given open work rights to those supplementary seasonal employer work scheme visa holders many of whom work in the hospitality industry and we have increased the duration of the Essential Skills Work Visa for jobs paid below the median wage from six months to 12 months. So we are working with that sector within the constraints of COVID. I do note that the Government's response to COVID has enabled those hospitality businesses to be open during periods of time where their equivalents in other countries have not been able to open.Andrew Bayly: Is it fair that in areas where the Government is the employer like education labour shortages are dealt with by allowing 300 teachers in but despite the large number of empty MIQ rooms businesses are forced to shut up shop for lack of workers?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I'll repeat what I said to the member in an earlier answer. We've had around 17000 critical workers come through MIQ. Part of that is in the education sector but large parts of that are in other parts of the economy as well.Andrew Bayly: What is he doing to address the Employers and Manufacturers Association's concern that the piecemeal way the Government is handling labour shortages is making it difficult for businesses to operate and plan to grow their businesses?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I just think the member needs to consider what he's asking. The New Zealand economy is now operating at levels higher than before COVID. These are the problems of growth. I thank the member for highlighting the growing economy under this Government. We will keep working with all sectors of the economy to bring the labour that they need into New Zealand while training New Zealanders at the same time. But we do have to remember: the thing that's got us to the point of a growing economy is being careful about making sure COVID-19 doesn't get in. That still remains the number one issue that businesses raise with me.Hon Chris Hipkins: Can the Minister of Finance confirm that there has been record growth in the number of apprentices under this Government that will help to ease the skill shortages businesses and employers are facing?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Absolutely and this is a genuine partnership with the business sector—over 135000 people benefiting from free apprenticeships and targeted trade training. This is about getting the balance right making sure we protect New Zealanders from COVID-19 and support businesses to have the skilled staff they need."