3. Question No. 3—Prime MinisterRt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 3—Prime Minister3. Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON (Prime Minister): Yes and especially our commitment to deliver tax relief to low and middle income working New Zealanders which takes effect next week. It is not radical to believe that tax brackets should be adjusted periodically to reflect inflation and after 14 years it's great that we're finally doing it. It's practical it's fair it's affordable and it's common sense. And I'm proud that this Government will do exactly that on Wednesday next week when tax brackets are adjusted for the first time in 14 years. For an average income household that means up to $102 a fortnight and an additional up to $150 a fortnight if they have young kids in childcare. And my message is this to the squeezed middle; it's pretty simple: after years of struggling through more taxes more spending more inflation this Government has your back. We're lowering the cost of living. [Interruption]Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Why should New Zealanders have confidence—SPEAKER: Just hang on. Just give yourself the space to ask it with the House respecting your question.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Why should New Zealanders have confidence in his Government's commitment to increase the number of police by 500 sworn officers when nearly a quarter of the way through the parliamentary term police numbers have actually dropped by 124 during his tenure as Prime Minister?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: We have ambitious and aspirational goals. We are determined to lower crime in this country. You cannot have a huge increase in retail crime a huge increase in ram raids a huge increase in violent crime and gang membership without more police. That's what we're doing. We're going to get more police.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Has the number of people unemployed and on a jobseeker benefit increased or decreased since he became Prime Minister?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: It has increased and it's happened because the previous Government increased Government spending by 84 percent. It drove up domestic inflation. When that happens it raises interest rates. That slowed the economy and it's risen to high levels of unemployment. This Government's determined to kill inflation to get it under control. It's great to see last week it's at 3.3 percent. We expect interest rates to come down when we get it back in the band. That will grow the economy and that will keep people in work.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Well can he confirm that his Government's decision to increase the cost of car registration reintroduce prescription fees scrap public transport subsidies for young people scrap affordable water reforms and other changes that increase costs for Kiwis has actually added half a percent to inflation in the last quarter meaning we would already be within the 1 to 3 percent target inflation range now if they hadn't done those things?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Oh my goodness! These are crocodile tears aren't they? Aren't they? I mean I've described that member as the arsonist who lit the fire shows back up at the scene of the crime and then blames us and the fire brigade for putting it out. That's exactly what's happening here sunshine. That's a bit rich coming from you.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: They don't like the facts. Has New Zealand's as yet unfunded emissions reduction liability under the Paris Agreement increased or decreased since he became Prime Minister and is it his Government's intention to purchase international carbon credits to offset any outstanding liabilities that aren't met through domestic emissions reductions?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Well I can tell you the best way to deal with that problem is actually to lower emissions and that's what we're planning to do.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Point of order Mr Speaker. There were two parts to the question. The Prime Minister didn't address either of them. One was whether the emissions liability has increased or decreased and the second was whether they're going to offset that by buying international carbon credits. He didn't answer either of those things.SPEAKER: Well that might be how you've heard it. I heard that he said that the intention is to reduce carbon emissions. That would surely deal with both those parts but however I'm sure the Prime Minister would be quite happy to say something more.Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Well as I've said before we've got a great plan to be able to lower climate emissions. It's different from the previous administration's plan but that's OK. We're focused on delivering the ends; we'll just do it a different way a better way.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Point of order Mr Speaker. I don't think anybody watching that would be any the wiser as to whether or not emissions are going up or down under his Government and whether or not they're intending to purchase carbon credits internationally to offset those emissions.SPEAKER: Well possibly because they would have struggled to hear what was said because of the amount of noise that was coming from the—[Interruption] Sorry is the member wanting to argue with me?Hon Dr Megan Woods: No.SPEAKER: I'll have to go back over the audio tape. I'm sure that the dulcet tones of the member will be very audible in that case. Ask the question again at no penalty and we'll see what comes of that.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Thank you Mr Speaker. Has New Zealand's as yet unfunded emissions reduction liability under the Paris Agreement increased or decreased since he became Prime Minister and is it his Government's intention to purchase international carbon credits to offset any outstanding liabilities that aren't met through domestic emissions reductions?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Our Government's intention is to reduce emissions and what we're going to do is pass fast-track legislation. I think that was a genius idea by the gentleman at the back—David Parker—who actually should be the leader of the Labour Party because he actually is principled and he actually cares about something. Fast-track legislation is the way in which we lower our emissions. I'd encourage that member to support us.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Point of order Mr Speaker. Perhaps I could help the Prime Minister by seeking—SPEAKER: No—not by point of order.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: —leave for David Parker to provide an answer to the questions as he seems to know more about it than the Prime Minister does.SPEAKER: Well you could but you're not going to. So another supplementary.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Does he stand by his statement that what we're doing on interest deductibility is making sure we lower you know we … actually put downward pressure on rents for renters."; if so by how much have rents dropped across New Zealand since he became Prime Minister?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Well what I can tell that member is in the previous administration rents went up $175 a week. What we are doing is making sure that we increase the supply of houses being built the supply of rental properties being available and the supply of social housing being available. If we can do that we can put downward pressure on rents. We can make sure that people get affordable housing.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Which of the following best demonstrates his so-called laser-like focus on outcomes: fewer police on the beat more people unemployed inflation staying higher for longer increasing greenhouse gas emissions or higher rents?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Again it is rich taking a lecture from that member on outcomes—this was a Government that spent more money hired more people delivered worse outcomes completely. You can't hide from that record. We're determined; we publish it every quarter. We're very transparent with the New Zealand people. We have a quarterly plan. We actually announce our scorecards. We announce our progress against our targets. We're going to keep doing it. [Interruption]SPEAKER: When you're ready.Hon Member: Oh can I keep going?SPEAKER: No you can't."