6. Question No. 6—Economic DevelopmentKIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour) to the Minister for Economic DevelopmentQuestion No. 6—Economic Development6. KIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour) to the Minister for Economic Development: What recent announcements has he made about supporting businesses affected by the COVID-19 coronavirus?Hon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister for Economic Development): Our Government's economic response to COVID-19 is focused on supporting workers to stay in work and businesses to stay in business. That's why on Tuesday Cabinet agreed to provide an extra $4 million to bolster the Regional Business Partners programme to help businesses around the country affected by COVID-19 with practical advice on issues such as payroll and dealing with Inland Revenue on tax payments. Cabinet also agreed to establish up to 16 rapid-response Ministry of Social Development teams to assist with immediate needs such as helping move workers into other jobs and referring those in need of further support to other Government agencies.Kiritapu Allan: In what other ways is the Government providing support?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: We announced last month that we are providing $11 million to help Tourism New Zealand boost visitor numbers; $10 million will go towards diversifying its marketing in other countries to offset the fall in Chinese tourist numbers and a million will go towards funding marketing to New Zealanders. Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash has agreed to allow some of this year's uncaught rock lobster harvest to be carried forward to the next fishing year giving those businesses some certainty. I'm also advised that affected businesses may be able to make an estimate or a re-estimate of provisional tax if their circumstances have changed due to COVID-19. Cabinet has also agreed in principle to waive the stand-down period for those who are seeking income support and more detail on that will be forthcoming after Cabinet on Monday.Kiritapu Allan: And what other actions is the Government considering?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well we know that there is more to do to support New Zealand workers and businesses at this time. As the Prime Minister said yesterday Cabinet has requested further work on a number of initiatives. These include whether funding could be made available to enable workers who have had their hours reduced to undertake training. We're looking to work in partnership with forestry owners to bring forward work on new forestry access roads so that they can keep their workforce working while they wait for logging and harvesting to resume. We're also considering whether there are projects we can use our forestry workforce on with a bit of extra training and support.Kiritapu Allan: What other actions will he be taking?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I'll be visiting regions to look at the economic impact of COVID-19 and will be reporting back to the COVID Cabinet committee like I did earlier this week. I visited Tai Rāwhiti with Kiri Allan and Meka Whaitiri on Tuesday and spoke to people in the forestry industry who are doing it tough. Forestry contractor Robert Stubbs had four logging crews working a few weeks ago and has had to make workers on two crews redundant because of the downturn in exports to China. His remaining crews have only 70 percent of their former workload. He said that local roadworks could provide temporary work for his workers and that is the kind of practical idea that our Government is exploring.Hon Todd McClay: What advice has he received about the significance of COVID-19 on an already slowing economy?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: We've received plenty of advice on the economic implications of COVID-19 much of which notes—as I think many commentators do—that the strength of the fundamentals in the New Zealand economy mean that actually New Zealand and the New Zealand Government is well placed to withstand the shock.Hon Todd McClay: Why is it a Government priority to make it easier for people to go on a benefit rather than actually plan to support businesses to keep New Zealanders in jobs?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: We're doing both.