4. Question No. 4—FinanceKIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 4—Finance4. KIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour) to the Minister of Finance: What announcements has the Government made with respect to Budget 2020?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): While the vast bulk of the Budget remains for Budget day as is the tradition of Governments of the past there have been some early announcements. Our plan to combat the global COVID-19 pandemic has three stages: respond recover and rebuild. I've announced that Budget 2020 will focus on laying the groundwork for the recover and rebuild stages. It will strengthen our public services and provide significant investments to get New Zealanders back to work and to begin tackling some of our long-term economic challenges. These are necessary investments given the extremely difficult global and domestic economic outlook that is ahead of us. This will change our fiscal outlook substantially and as I have said before with higher debt and deficits for an extended period I remain committed to managing our books carefully and responsibly. And right now being responsible means investing money to support our people our businesses and our communities to get through this and to rebuild.Kiritapu Allan: What announcements has he made regarding funding for health in Budget 2020?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: This morning I announced alongside the health Minister Dr David Clark that Budget 2020 will deliver the biggest ever increase in the funding of district health boards. The different abilities of Governments around the world to respond to the global COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted just how important it is to have well-funded public services like our health system. The $3.92 billion boost to DHBs is a 9 percent increase of funding following on from 5 percent and 4.5 percent increases in the previous years. It is added to by $282.5 million for a planned care catch-up programme. Budget 2020 will continue this Government's record of tackling the legacy of underfunding and neglect of our health system.Hon Paula Bennett: Will there be more money going to horse racing than Pharmac in this Budget? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Absolutely not but since the member raises it it is worth noting that the 15000 people directly employed by the racing industry and the 60000 people indirectly employed by the racing industry will be pleased to know that the Government values all jobs in New Zealand not just the ones the member picks out.Kiritapu Allan: What other announcements has the Government made regarding funding for education in Budget 2020?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: On Monday education Ministers Chris Hipkins and Tracey Martin announced Budget 2020 investment of $320.8 million in early learning support higher quality early learning for every child. This includes a $151.1 million funding boost for the pay of up to 17000 qualified teachers working in education and care services $122 million to fund a 2.3 percent increase in subsidy rates for education and care services and additional help to professionalise home-based early learning and support for playcentres. As we respond to the impacts of COVID-19 on our society and economy we must have strong public services including our early learning system to protect and improve our collective wellbeing.