Robertson Grant: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeRobertson Grant: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 17 March 2015. Volume:704;Page:2264. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]5.GRANT ROBERTSON (Labour—Wellington Central) to the Minister of Finance: Can workers still expect that the average wage will rise to $62000 in the next three years as he stated during the period of the election campaign in 2014?Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance): That depends on whether Treasury forecasts for growth in the average wages from the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update actually occur because it forecast in the update that the average wage would grow by $6600 to $62000 by mid-2018. The most recent forecasts which reflect lower inflation push that point out 3 months later—that is they would reach $62000 by the third quarter of 2018 instead of the second quarter. Treasury’s latest forecasts actually show slightly stronger real wage growth over the next few years which would mean households will have slightly more spending power but low inflation which has now been forecast to reach zero this year. That means that the dollar view of wage increases may be slightly less than in that forecast.Grant Robertson: Given that answer when he said in the election campaign “National’s economic plan will make those forecasts a reality.” is he now reneging on that statement about possible wage rises for New Zealanders?Hon BILL ENGLISH: No but we have been very clear that these are economic forecasts. The member may not be aware of this but they will be subject to uncertainty. Inflation may end up being lower than people expected migration figures might change the housing market might alter but I think what is pretty clear is that the forecasts indicate a path of sustainable moderate increases in income—and that is not a bad outlook for New Zealand families. It is not ideal but it is not bad.Grant Robertson: Is it correct that to achieve the wage growth that he promised New Zealanders in the election campaign would require an average wage increase for New Zealanders of 3 percent per annum and is he guaranteeing New Zealanders that will happen?Hon BILL ENGLISH: The member knows that no one can guarantee wage increases and it was not a promise. I simply pointed out a fact that the Labour Party was not happy with and that was that all economic forecasts actually showed average wages rising when it was trying to argue that New Zealand incomes were going down and it was simply wrong. Those forecasts remain roughly on track. New Zealand households can look forward to sustained moderate wage increases if current economic conditions persist and this Government will do its best to reinforce current economic conditions that support higher incomes because we think it is a good idea.Grant Robertson: In light of that answer where he said it was not a promise to New Zealanders that the average wage would rise to $62000 does he recall this graphic being produced by him and the National Party that said “National’s economic plan will make those forecasts a reality.” and why is he once again misleading New Zealanders about wage increases under his Government?Hon BILL ENGLISH: I am not. Actually wages are pretty important to most New Zealanders and I do not think you would be able to mislead them. The Labour Party may try to do that but we do not. In fact many New Zealanders have a degree of confidence that they can look forward to sustained moderate wage increases and actually they voted back in a Government that they think will take measures that may assist that to occur. So we certainly stand by the fact that all economic forecasts show sustained moderate wage growth in New Zealand.Grant Robertson: If when inflation was higher it was too hot for wage increases and now that it is low it is too cold for wage increases can he tell New Zealanders what the Goldilocks solution looks like when it is just right?Hon BILL ENGLISH: I thought the member would have more original lines than those coming straight out of the Post Primary Teachers’ Association. I have not actually said either of those things. His job is to be spokesman for the economy not for the Post Primary Teachers’ Association the secondary school teachers union.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I would ask you to have a look later as you always do at the nature of the exchange that we have just had. Frankly I do not think it worked out terribly well for the Opposition—Mr SPEAKER: Order! Just make the point.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I assume now that you have allowed political points to be made about campaign matters that when reports are received by Ministers that would point out the fallacies of some of the claims being made by the Opposition they may be used by Ministers in answers to their questions.Grant Robertson: This was a question on notice. Authentication was provided for the question. It was accepted by the Clerk’s Office. It noted the fact that the statement was made during the period of the election campaign. All of my supplementary questions drew on that statement so I do not think Mr Brownlee can rule out those sorts of questions.Mr SPEAKER: The member Mr Brownlee has asked that I have a look at the transcript later and I certainly will do so.