1. Job Creation and Unemployment—Unemployment Rate and WagesHon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterWEDNESDAY 1 AUGUST 2018The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.Karakia.ORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSJob Creation and Unemployment—Unemployment Rate and Wages1. Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's policies and actions?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Acting Prime Minister): Yes.Hon Simon Bridges: Is he concerned in his last day as Prime Minister that unemployment is rising with an extra 4000 people unemployed in the latest figures?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The facts are that this country has the third-highest level of employment in the 35-country OECD—the third-highest level—and on the examination of the previous Government's record they never got below in all those years 4.8. We're at 4.5.Hon Simon Bridges: Is he concerned that job creation under his Government has more than halved from 10000 new jobs a month to 4000 now?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The reality is that we have a record high rate of employment among Māori; a record high rate of employment amongst women; a serious drop in the neets" or the young people not in education employment or training; and Treasury predicts that we'll be steady on about 4.5 or 4.4 percent.Hon Simon Bridges: What effect does he think the changes to the overseas investment rules will have on the job markets and job creation?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The very effect that it's having now—none. The only job that seems to be at risk in this country is over there.Hon Simon Bridges: What effect does he think the Government's industrial law changes will have on the jobs market and unemployment?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The effect that the industrial relations in this country are going to be a case where the once-neglected working people of this country are going to get a fair go. That's why they're lining up in their hundreds of thousands at this present time. They know that we need strategic leadership in business and in the unions but the Government will do its job to bring them together.Hon Simon Bridges: What effect does he think that banning oil and gas exploration increased taxes over 130 working groups and inquiries and softening up the obligations on people to work will have on job creation and unemployment?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: That statement to quote Geoffrey Palmer is false and it's malicious and it's not true.Hon Simon Bridges: Which part?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The part about banning oil and gas exploration—he's been told over and over again in this House that it's not true. They know it's not true and being the number one grumpy in this country won't help.SPEAKER: Order! Order! The Acting Prime Minister has just indicated that the Leader of the Opposition has deliberately misled the House. He cannot do that. He will withdraw and apologise.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: I withdraw and apologise. I know—SPEAKER: No no that's the end of it thank you.Hon Simon Bridges: Is he concerned that wages aren't keeping up with inflation even before there was a 25 percent a litre fuel tax increase that has come into force on 1 July?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Every economist all the way to the IMF has pointed to the fact that wages are on the rise in New Zealand but responsibly so—responsibly so. We cannot catch up with our Australian friends in terms of average earnings down $149 a week on average. We can't catch the Aussies up with the pathway that they recommend: low wages mass immigration and people being degraded.Hon Grant Robertson: Can the Prime Minister confirm that today's employment data confirms that wages grew in June with private sector wage rates up 2.1 percent annually and that the quarterly employment survey data for average total weekly earnings increased 3.3 percent from a year ago?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: I am very happy to say that that's a fact.Hon Simon Bridges: Does the Prime Minister not accept that wage growth has been lower and slower than inflation?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: I've got no idea where that member's been but every other observer in this country and also his backers have been complaining about wage rises and now he says they're down. He should make up his mind please.Hon Simon Bridges: When he said yesterday "This Government has a tranche of explosive policies that will see a rapid turn-around in our country's economy" what policies was he talking about?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: They are the policies we've already announced and the policies that are coming from a very reformative Government.Hon Simon Bridges: Give me one.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Give you one? Well $1 billion a year for infrastructure in the provinces in the regions. For the first time for a long time a Government understands that the regions and the farm- and machine-hands of our country are great wealth creators. That's one for a start—how many more does he want?Hon Simon Bridges: Does he believe Kiwi families are getting ahead under this Government when unemployment is going up job creation is falling and wages aren't keeping up with the cost of living all as a result of Government policies?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Since 1 July this year over a million families are being improved a million people are being helped and there is more progress to come. For example one of the most stunning results has been the winter energy payment which has captured the imagination of so many people out there. Whereas in the past they used to go without and freeze they've got help now and it's of significant benefit to them. Look everywhere else in the country and you will see that this business of being a grumpy is not going to be successful in politics because New Zealanders know better.Hon Amy Adams: The economy's slowing.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: And one last thing Ms Adams and it's this: why are we rising in the polls if what you say is right?Hon Simon Bridges: In his last day as Prime Minister what does he say to the—SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume his seat. The member will ask questions without prefaces which he I think knows are almost certainly not correct.Hon Simon Bridges: What does he say to the 4000 people who are now on the dole queue and weren't just a month or two ago?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Well that would have been not 4000—under his administration about 25000 more because here are the figures for the last nine to 10 years. But can I just say on the last day which he mentioned I fully expect a delegation to come to my office this evening before I go but duty calls.SPEAKER: Order! Once again I very definitely and deliberately cut a part of the Leader of the Opposition's question because it was out of order. The Acting Prime Minister should not reply to out of order questions."