Pallett SarahSARAH PALLETT (Labour—Ilam): Thank you Madam Speaker. I rise this evening in support of this bill and—sorry I'm a little tiny bit taken back with the suddenness of my colleague across the row ending. Obviously completely fascinating but somewhat abrupt in its ending.Matt Doocey: Point of order Madam Speaker.SARAH PALLETT: I'm sorry are you starting again Mr Doocey?ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa): Point of order Matt Doocey.Matt Doocey: The Government MP was surprised my time had finished. I'd like to seek leave for further time.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa): No. That is not granted.Hon Member: He sought leave!SARAH PALLETT: Speaking to the point of order Madam Speaker I wasn't surprised by his time ending; I was merely surprised by the abrupt way his sentence finished. Thank you.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa): You're seriously seeking leave for more time?Hon Member: He said that.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa): I put that leave for more time for Matt Doocey. It is not granted.SARAH PALLETT: Thank you Madam Speaker. Good try Mr Doocey! Right now the fundamentals of our economy are strong. Our strong health response has protected our economy through COVID-19 and we've done better than almost any other country because we put people first because the best response to any crisis is to focus on the people. We know that the best health responses will result in the best economic responses. You can't separate a solid economic response from a solid health response.We are though in the middle of a global pandemic. Whilst we've done well we can't escape the fact that forces are in play that are affecting all of the economies of the OECD countries in the world—all of the countries of the world.We heard today that in the UK inflation has risen to 9 percent in the 12 months to April—9 percent: the highest level since 1982. I have to say when I heard the news an expletive that I won't repeat in the House did escape my lips. It is predicted to rise again unfortunately.What did the chancellor have to say about this? The Chancellor of the Exchequer. He said and I will remind the House that he is a Conservative MP There is no measure any Government could take no law we could pass that could make these global forces disappear overnight."We in Government have been arguing this point that there are some things that we cannot change but we can respond to them. We can see examples like my friend in the UK who has seen her fuel costs rise by thousands of dollars this year causing them great economic hardship.We understand that things are tough for many families here in New Zealand. That's why we've introduced a comprehensive cost of living package a package that will give a payment of $350 to all people earning $70000 or less. That's 2.1 million people approximately assessed on an individual basis not a household basis. We are also extending our fuel tax cut extending our road-user charges cut extending our public transport fees rebate of 50 percent and permanently halving public transport fees for those on the community services card.So when you hear members of the Opposition talk about tax cuts they mean tax cuts for the wealthy; they don't mean relief for what they describe as the squeezed middle. They don't mean that and you know what? They won't tell you what they will cut to give themselves a pay rise. Is it the new Hillmorton Hospital that the Opposition proposes to scrap? Is it the 80 new adult psychiatric beds in the new Hillmorton Hospital? Is it Whangarei Hospital? Is it Nelson Hospital? Is it money for the eating disorder services? Is it for the Pharmac money that we've increased? A 43 percent increase to Pharmac medicines budget since 2017 is what this Labour Government is going to be providing. Is that what they're going to cut in the Opposition?They're busy telling us that $350 is nothing. They're busy telling us this when they're simultaneously telling us that $2 a week for the lowest earners—which is their tax cut proposal for the low-earning people of New Zealand—oh we're supposed to be grateful for that; that's a lot of money?Frankly this is not true. We're not going to spend $350 on a one-way ticket to Australia because people on low and middle incomes don't spend $350 on a trip to Australia. They spend it on food on fuel on car registration on looking after their families. Looking after their families is precisely what this Government is doing.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa): I call on—Hon Member: Halbert.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa): I call on Shanan Halbert."