SpeechRt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Deputy Prime Minister): Prime Minister and colleagues today the coalition Government took unprecedented steps for an unprecedented challenge. That's the reality—not the greatest challenge in a generation but maybe since the Second World War. No one understands the dimensions of what we face but we are certainly getting ready for it. We don't underestimate the challenge in front of us—the health challenge the economic challenge and the recovery challenge.Most nations face an uncertain future under COVID-19 but it's no time for us to be clouded by doubt. It's vital that we demonstrate leadership and clarity and today you saw exactly that. As the coalition partner New Zealand First is united in its support. We acknowledge the Prime Minister's leadership and the work of Ministers who have developed and delivered today's package. We have many challenges to overcome. The implications of the global spread of this virus are occurring in real time.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Timid! Timid!Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: What was that Mr Brownlee? You want to know where to get a test? In the last few days we have witnessed rising infection rates stringent border control measures cancelled public events financial markets suffering plunging visitor numbers and airline job losses—just to name a few. That's why today the $12.1 billion support package is vital it's essential it's critical and it follows a $12 billion package announced only three months ago. This is the biggest injection in recovery any country in the world has seen when you see it in tandem. The scale of today's package is already greater than the operational spending of the last three Budgets as Mr Grant Robertson spelt out. This coalition Government is motivated by protecting the health of our people protecting our vulnerable protecting our economic livelihood and ensuring the quickest possible recovery on all fronts. Make no mistake: this is a critical Government response and a challenge to us all. And as the Minister of Finance has pointed out the economic package is appropriate by international per capita spending comparisons. There is a massive boost in spending for health measures and an equally big spend to build a real buffer around our economy our businesses our workers and our livelihoods—and we have only just begun.Let me speak directly to one part of our community and that's the elderly. You are our mothers and fathers our grandparents and senior citizens—a respected part of our community. You are amongst the most vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic. Naturally many of you will be concerned about what COVID-19 means both as a health and financial risk. Be assured—and be reassured—the Government is here to particularly help you. As part of the economic package there is a doubling of the winter energy payment. It will double payments to become $1400 for couples and $900 for single people. It's a one-off but it's a measure to ensure that the conditions that might worsen this prevalent outside imposter do not prevail in our country. We estimate 850000 of you will gain from this measure to help you keep warm this winter and once we include partners of recipients more than one million are expected to benefit by this measure as well.All New Zealanders will read the news reports about the Government's actions but that is only part of the picture. Our greatest weapon is to be found in what each one of us does for all of us. Our individual steps will make the difference in our resistance to this pandemic. Day-to-day practical health steps are powerful weapons of choice to beat this outbreak. Be careful with hygiene regularly and thoroughly wash and dry your hands and follow sound medical advice. Listen to our health officials—they are out there in the thousands dedicated to helping you. It's important we look after each other especially the elderly and the vulnerable in our community.Can I just say the Government is taking the necessary steps and more measures will be delivered. But I want to refer to the speech we heard from the Leader of the Opposition.Hon Grant Robertson: Do you have to?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Frankly I do have to because it was shallow and it was graceless and the New Zealand people will judge him for it. He talked about health and $800 million. He knows the level of the prior—Hon Member: $500 million.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: $500 million sorry—$500 million. I'm certain before too long it'll be $800 million. [Interruption] I'm glad you're listening! He referred to $500 million but he didn't refer to what we've inherited and how much money in the billions we've already injected into it. And Mr Bennett there's no use shaking one's head though there's a good reason why you should. The reality of it all is that this Government is adding a serious top-up right here right now. And clearly Mr Bridges you don't understand the package announced today.He referred to baking in"—whatever that phrase means it sounded like it was half-baked in terms of his analysis. And then he had the audacity to talk about the debt. Well the global financial crisis found them with $10 billion in Crown debt and they took it to what? To $82 billion—$82 billion. [Interruption] And the member for Epsom says "So what?" So you don't understand; that's what. Never had a business never had a company mortgage never had a business mortgage—Hon Gerry Brownlee: That's what happens in a crisisRt Hon WINSTON PETERS: No no I'm not talking about running an illegal casino; I'm talking about real life where out there there's going to be a struggle for so many New Zealanders—and this Government's here to help.Hon Gerry Brownlee: You don't let them sink with—Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Mr Brownlee the Christchurch earthquake still has my colleagues wrestling with the outcome nine years later. That member was the Minister in charge of the Christchurch earthquake and when that first happened I realised that a disaster was coming. Let's face it: we are facing a crisis here and we have confidence in the personnel not somebody who jumps up opens his mouth and lets the wind blow his tongue around. That's not good enough. Not in this crisis Mr Brownlee. For example can I ask Mr Bridges who compared the struggle he had to find money for the Kaikōura road—remember that? Mr Bridges the road between Tauranga and Katikati how much did you find for that? Come on—can I hear? How much did he find for that? The road can I say to Mr Reti from Whangarei all the way down to Warkworth—the four-lane highway that's seen all these advertisements up there—how many dollars did he and you find for that? Can we hear it now? OK now I didn't want to turn this into a petty matter because this is a response from a Government—Hon Members: You've done well. You've done very well.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Well I mean pointing out hypocrisy has always been important. But I want to make it very very clear: this Government is facing a massive crisis. I believe it's possibly unprecedented and we are as hard-nosed—and yet empathetic—to know we have got to get ready for the very worst. And if we do that we can turn it around faster than any other country. I've got confidence in New Zealanders I really have but they don't want naysayers and they don't want people who are critics and who spend all their time trying to drag them down. We're all human there's going to be mistakes—get past it. In the main in 99.99 percent of the time people will be doing God's work and turning this around. So I'm saying to every New Zealander today: the Government is aware of the plight has a grasp of the magnitude of the event we face. One little thing Mr Bridges whenever did you make a prediction that came true?Hon Gerry Brownlee: In 2008 I think.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Just one? No not once. This is a business right now facing a health and economic crisis which requires a resounding quality and it's called experience—having known what to do been there before seen how it has to happen—and this Government's exhibiting that classically in this announcement today. We have a very real public health crisis to overcome in coming months and we will. We have an economic storm to get through in coming months and we will.Hon David Bennett: No you won't.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Now there's somebody who's shouted out "No you won't". So he'd rather for the political preference of his party that the Government fail—just for the preference of his party—than hundreds and hundreds and maybe millions of New Zealanders get a turnaround result. That is the ultimate in selfish egregious behaviour and it came straight from their back-bench. He doesn't want us to succeed. Not even an offer of hands across the sea—so to speak—so we might have a collegial parliamentary effort. No it's going to be lousy politics and I know the Prime Minister hates this—and so do I most of the time. But I want to say we have set upon a path of recovery. We have set upon a path to utilise the grind and the grit and the talent and commitment of our fellow New Zealanders. We have utmost confidence in them that we will together work our way out of this and back to success."