Verrall AyeshaHon Dr AYESHA VERRALL (Minister for Food Safety): This Government is securing our economic future through Budget 2022 as we recover from COVID-19. While we know that our economy has outperformed many other countries and that unemployment is at a record low rate of 3.2 we still know it's been a tough couple of years for many New Zealanders.The pandemic has caused huge disruption in our daily lives and our workplaces and our families are feeling the pressure. There are the impacts of rising inflation and supply chain disruptions and pressure from oil prices because of the illegal invasion of Ukraine and these are being felt at the petrol pump and at the supermarket. That's why Budget 2022 includes more support for families. We're delivering a short-term cost of living payment for about 2.1 million Kiwis to help with the impact of rising prices—$350 in three-monthly instalments starting on 1 August. That's worth about $27 per week for three months. It comes on top of a package of income support measures that came into force in 1 April this year which I know the seniors community in particular greatly appreciated. It includes a significant lift in main benefit rates student allowances the family tax credit and childcare allowances as well as superannuation. Budget 2022 tackles the cost of transport by extending the 25c fuel excise tax cut and keeping public transport half price for a further two months—another measure very popular among seniors and we are also making half-price public transport cuts permanent for community services card holders.We're addressing the root cause of higher grocery bills by introducing urgent legislation to stop supermarkets from blocking competition from accessing land to open new stores. These are meaningful steps that will help Kiwi families face the cost of living pressures right now. At the same time we're investing in infrastructure combating climate change and investing in the critical services that people need. I'm pleased to follow my colleague Mr Little in noting that Budget 2022 made the largest ever investment in health for more nurses more medicines to get the health system sorted to better focus on services. Kiwis will be able to get emergency care when they need it with funding for more paramedics new ambulances and emergency helicopters around the country. Dental grants for low-income Kiwis have more than tripled from $300 to $1000 and no longer have to be for emergency work only. Budget 2022 also delivers the largest police force ever and includes an extra $94 million specifically to target gangs and organised crime. These initiatives and many more that are in the Budget are only possible because we continue to manage such a strong growing economy. GDP is up 5.6 from a year ago and our economic activity is higher than it was before COVID-19. Unemployment is at a low of 3.2 percent against expectations that when COVID hit it could be as high as 10 percent. Wages have outpaced inflation up until this recent inflation spike and we forecast a rise against inflation for every year after 2022. Many households are better off under Labour. Our debt is set to peak at about half of Australia's around a third of that of the UK's a fifth of that of the US and measured consistently as a percentage of GDP according to the IMF's forecast and we will get the books back into surplus in 2024.In addition Budget 2022 included measures to accelerate our economic recovery. This includes supporting a flexible business environment that promotes innovation lays strong foundations for future growth and opportunities. We know part of this is increasing the climate resilience of our economy. That's why we are making the transition to a low-emissions economy. That's why you'll see the Climate Emergency Response Fund package was such an important part of Budget 2022 and related announcements.We are also delivering on our commitment to position the economy for the future through the establishment of industry transformation plans (ITPs). You'll see there is funding to make progress across the ITP programme including for the construction sector accord advanced manufacturing ITP an agritech industry transformation plan a digital transformation plan and plans in the primary industries. Budget 2022 is squarely focused on the needs of New Zealanders the need for our economic security as we recover from COVID-19 the need to support our families and the need to invest in the critical services that they expect and deserve.