6. Budget 2017—Tax CutsGRANT ROBERTSON (Labour—Wellington Central) to the Minister of FinanceBudget 2017—Tax Cuts6. GRANT ROBERTSON (Labour—Wellington Central) to the Minister of Finance: Does he agree with Prime Minister Rt Hon Bill English that tax cuts are on the table" for Budget 2017?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Finance): Of course. I always agree with the Prime Minister. I have found over the last 8½ years that both the previous Prime Minister and the current Prime Minister enjoy it when their Ministers agree with them and it is appropriate to do so. I am considering four priorities in preparing for Budget 2017: firstly increasing public services for a growing country; secondly building the infrastructure needed in a growing country; thirdly reducing net debt as a percentage of GDP; and fourthly when the opportunity permits looking to return some money to hard-working New Zealand families. Those are the four priorities. As for the specifics of Budget 2017 I can advise the member that he has only 22 days to wait.Grant Robertson: Why did he say last week: "I wouldn't be characterising anything we do primarily as tax cuts."?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I understand the member's new-found enthusiasm for these matters but he will have to wait 22 days and I will answer his question.Grant Robertson: Would the threshold changes he was talking about last week mean that some people would pay less tax?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Again the member is getting slightly ahead of himself. There are literally 3 weeks and 1 day to go until the Budget and then I will have the opportunity to share with him the result of the Government's deliberations.Grant Robertson: Why was he prepared to share with the media last week that he was considering threshold changes; and will he now tell the House whether or not those threshold changes he talked to the media about last week would mean that some people would be paying less tax?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I have been discussing the potential for threshold changes publicly for a long time and that remains part of the discussion. In terms of what if anything would change as a result of those considered threshold changes it would be a case of just having to wait and see until Budget 2017 which is on 25 May.David Seymour: Does he stand by his statement made on The Nation 2 weeks ago with regard to cutting tax: "I would like to one day. Can I do it this time? I still don't know. Maybe."?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I do think that is a reasonable summation of what I was thinking at the time.Grant Robertson: Is the real reason that he has suddenly got so shy about talking about tax cuts not that he knows New Zealanders will reject a tax cut that might be worth a packet of cheese slices a week when families are living in cars and garages?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Again we will have to see what happens on 25 May. I notice that a number of commentators have been supportive of the idea. In fact I can quote one here who said: "We'll see what the Government does in the Budget because they have indicated they might move thresholds. I think that's fine because that should happen periodically." That was one A Little on 27 April 2017.Grant Robertson: Is the Minister telling the House that New Zealanders will get a meaningful tax cut in the Budget of $20 to $30 a week as promoted by former Prime Minister John Key or is he now really shy about tax cuts because New Zealanders know money needs to be invested in social services that his Government has run down?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The really good news about having a strong economy is that the Government does have choices—Rt Hon Winston Peters: Which you haven't got and everybody knows it now.Hon STEVEN JOYCE: —well the member may not have heard actually. He might have been busy at lunchtime but actually the employment figures have just come out for the March quarter which show another 29000 more Kiwis are in jobs which is living proof of a strong economy. Actually that does give the Government choices. In terms of what choices the Government takes well we will be able to announce those on 25 May. In terms of the member's concern for social services we share that concern. The Prime Minister announced today a $321 million investment in new social investment initiatives including $68.8 million in ensuring young children get a better start in life. This Government is focused on achieving on a range of fronts for New Zealanders."