2. Economy—Current Account Deficit and GDPHon AMY ADAMS (National—Selwyn) to the Minister of FinanceEconomy—Current Account Deficit and GDP2. Hon AMY ADAMS (National—Selwyn) to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by the statements and policies of this Government regarding New Zealand's economy?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): Yes in their appropriate context.Hon Amy Adams: Why is he showing no concern that Treasury's forecast average GDP growth over the next two years has dropped by now half a percent since the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update which means $2.7 billion less in our economy or for him is any growth figure above zero good enough?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: What we are seeing is that the consensus forecasts as released by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research at the beginning of the week are in line with the Budget forecast. It is true that GDP levels were forecast to slow from the beginning of 2017 a period of time in which the member asking the question was in Government. They have slowed somewhat. We've been very open about the fact that it will take time to turn the economy around from one based on speculation as overseen by the previous Government to one based on productivity and sustainability as overseen by this Government.Hon Amy Adams: Well given that last answer does he stand by his statement that this Government won't be relying on population growth for our economic growth when GDP per capita forecasts have worsened since he took office and actual GDP growth per capita flat-lined in the last quarter to just 0.1 percent?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: As we've said from day one it will take time to turn around nine years of basing economic growth on population growth and housing speculation. As the policies of this Government roll out to improve investment in R & D lift skills in the economy and get better trade agreements we will see growth based on productive growth not the previous Government's approach.Hon Amy Adams: Does he agree with Statistics New Zealand's statement today that the current account deficit is—and I quote—an important indicator of the economy's health" when they today reported that we now have the largest current account deficit since the 2008 global financial crisis?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The current account deficit does fluctuate from time to time and it was largely in line with expectations: 2.8 percent of GDP in the year ended March 2018 compared with 2.7 percent of GDP in 2017. That's not the kind of difference the member should be getting worried about; the kind of difference she should be getting worried about is people having $75 per week extra in their pocket knowing that this Government is delivering to them.Hon Amy Adams: On what date was the public-private partnership (PPP) contract to build Waikeria Prison that he referred to in question time last Thursday signed?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I don't have that specific information with me. What I am aware of is that the PPP contract for Waikeria Prison was in place and that breaking it would've cost significant sums of money to this Government given that the contract had been earlier signed. Variations to the contract may well have been signed since then but the overall break fees for the original contract signed by the previous Government would have been substantial."