Kaye NikkiHon NIKKI KAYE (Minister of Education): I am delighted to speak on the Taxation (Budget Measures: Family Incomes Package) Bill 2017.Carmel Sepuloni: You should be embarrassed.Hon NIKKI KAYE: I just heard an interjection that I am shocked by. I just heard an interjection which was She should be embarrassed."—to be embarrassed about supporting a piece of legislation that lifts the incomes of some of our most disadvantaged New Zealanders; thousands more children getting access to the basics. I am incredibly proud of this bill and I am shocked and dismayed that the Opposition would even think about voting against the futures of so many of our disadvantaged young New Zealanders. This bill does a range of incredible things for those families who need it most including—this is a $2 billion package and this is what this legislation does: it raises the income thresholds putting more money $26 a week on average for 1.3 million families.I am absolutely shocked that the Labour Party could even consider voting against this. It is not even just about helping some of our most disadvantaged children. It is also going to put more money in the pockets of students—those students who desperately need that accommodation funding. That is in this bill. It is also about supporting superannuitants more; 750000 superannuitants are going to benefit from this legislation. This bill should be called the "Stephen Joyce Social Conscience Bill". It is about equality of opportunity. It is $2 billion more for hard-working families and anyone watching this should be absolutely shocked to see that the Labour Party is voting against this legislation.So let us look at the provisions. If you look at it we have obviously very clearly—raising the income threshold from $14000 to $22000 $48000 to $52000. What does it actually mean for New Zealanders? This means someone working full-time on the minimum wage will receive $11 a week as a result of the tax threshold changes. Anyone earning over $52000 will receive an extra $20 per week but a couple with partners earning the average wage will be $41 a week better off from these changes. I cannot believe the Labour Party is voting against this.It will also see the accommodation supplement maximum amount and accommodation supplement areas changed. That is very important. In parts of Auckland and I think in Tauranga that is going to see more money in people's pockets. Again a couple with two children under 13 and one partner earning $55000 will gain $41 per week plus any increase in terms of their accommodation supplement. So if you look at this bill it is not only simplifying in terms of tax arrangements it is enabling more young children in some disadvantaged families but also middle income New Zealanders to have more money in their pocket.This also has to be considered in the context of the rest of the Budget and what we have done in the last couple of years. We are the first Government in a very long time to raise core benefits. In this Budget you have literally hundreds of millions more whether it is in increasing funding for schools whether it is in mental health—this is actually a very strong budget for children but nothing stronger than this piece of legislation. I am still struggling to get my head around how the Labour Party could possibly vote against the futures of so many children who will be affected by a $2 billion package. The reality is—we saw it today in Andrew Little's speech; it was the prelude to them voting against it. He could not even finish his speech. [Interruption]The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): Order! I apologise for interrupting the member. I think when one member was interjecting and the member was replying it was sort of OK but I think that when it is added to by supportive comments and it becomes a debate between members—neither of whom have the floor—it is a little bit unfair on the speaker. So if Carmel Sepuloni and Chris Bishop could hold their tongues or whatever—Nikki Kaye.Hon NIKKI KAYE: So again coming back to the people who will be affected by this legislation—and reminding every member of Parliament before they cast their vote what they are actually going to vote against if they are going to vote against this legislation. They are voting against thousands of children who will be better off as a result of this. They are voting against the students who will have more money in their pockets. They are voting against the superannuitants who will benefit from this. They are voting against hard-working families particularly those who may be on the minimum wage and I am absolutely shocked that the Labour Party would vote against this.This is a very strong Government that is not only strong from an economic perspective but has demonstrated time and time again that we have more choices when we have a strong economy and we are able to deliver significant pieces of legislation like this that help our most disadvantaged that do more for some of those young children. That is alongside significant investments in health in housing and in education. In this Budget alone—this is the largest ever Budget for education with $1.5 billion more.It is a 41 percent increase now since we have been in office in terms of Vote Education and that goes alongside this legislation. So when we look at this legislation it is not only about more funding in terms of those families who need it but it is also looking at this legislation alongside other investments in public services because what we know is that if people have more money in their pocket then they are able to—Carmel Sepuloni: Why are they not showing up to any education political panels?Hon NIKKI KAYE: Ah—excuse me? Sorry I am getting quite a lot of interjections from Carmel Sepuloni—but again the point that I would make is that in her electorate in West Auckland she is going to have to turn up to the political panels—[Interruption]The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): OK. I thought the Minister was handling it sort of relatively well. If she would like me to settle it down I will take charge of settling it down not Mr Bishop.Hon NIKKI KAYE: As I said before the member opposite will have to go to West Auckland and explain to those families how she voted against a package that was going to put more money in their pockets was going to help them with their housing was going to help them in terms of other basic costs every week because that is what this legislation is going to do. This legislation is going to put on average $26 a week into the families who need it most—1.3 million families and $2 billion. I am very proud to support this legislation. [Interruption]The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): Order! [Interruption] Order! The advice that I gave to another member on that side can apply to whoever is helping me now."