2. Question No. 2—FinanceHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 2—Finance2. Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of Finance: Is it a goal of the Government's economic development policy for New Zealanders to enjoy higher incomes?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): Yes along with establishing a more productive and sustainable economy overall.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Which of these things is most likely to lead to higher incomes: banning new offers for offshore oil and gas exploration reducing foreign investment when any land is involved—SPEAKER: Order! Order! That's two. We don't do multi-choice here.Hon Paul Goldsmith: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: No it's not a point of order. I have ruled that the question is finished—Which of [the following]" and the member gave two alternatives.Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The decision around oil and gas is part of an overall plan for New Zealand to have a more sustainable economy to be able to build on the brand that we're all proud of in New Zealand about being a clean green country to harness the innovative potential of New Zealanders in a new technology in clean technology. I would encourage the member to listen to the Mayor of New Plymouth who's actually echoing exactly those thoughts when he says we can have a robust economy under this policy.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Isn't it true that there are a lot of things that New Zealanders have done in the past to make a living that he doesn't like and if so what would he prefer New Zealanders did?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Mr Goldsmith might want to look in the rear-vision mirror but this Government on this side of the House is looking to the future where we do want people in high-paying jobs. That means investing in research and development that means making sure the economy's more sustainable and that means making sure that every New Zealander gets a fair go. If the member opposite doesn't agree with that more's the pity.Hon Paul Goldsmith: How are New Zealanders going to get ahead if costs such as petrol prices ACC levies today and rents are rising faster?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I could challenge almost every one of those but what I can say is that on this side of the House we made sure that one of the first decisions that we made was to reverse tax cuts that would have given Mr Goldsmith and me $1000 a year and instead put that in to lifting the incomes of the lowest-paid people in New Zealand making sure that families have more money. On this side of the House we've got our priorities right.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Does he accept that the costs this Government is piling on to owners of rental properties are flowing through to a reduced supply of rental properties and to higher rents?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I can't answer the question about the supply of rental properties but what I can say is that in terms of rents as I told the House I believe yesterday the median rent increased 5 percent since the coalition Government was sworn in. The median rent during National's last year in office rose by 5.3 percent.Hon Paul Goldsmith: What typically comes first—Hon Andrew Little: The chicken!Hon Members: Ha ha!Hon Paul Goldsmith: —higher productivity leading to sustainable higher incomes—SPEAKER: Order!Hon Paul Goldsmith: —or higher incomes mandated by the State leading to higher productivity?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: What this Government is doing is realising that yes we do need to drive higher productivity to help lift wages but guess what—newsflash—the Government can do something as well like lifting the minimum wage."