3. CRAIG FOSS (National—Tukituki) Link to this
to the Minister of Finance
What measures is the Government taking to support jobs as New Zealand comes out of recession?
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance) Link to this
The Government is considering how all policy decisions affect jobs. That is why we are making pragmatic and realistic choices on issues like the emissions trading system. The Government’s changes to the emissions trading system will protect thousands of jobs by ensuring that our businesses are encouraged to stay in New Zealand rather than move to other countries.
I have heard reports that the Labour Party says that it cares about jobs but, in fact, its policy includes a much tougher emissions trading scheme, with unaffordable borrow-and-hope spending promises. That would say goodbye to large companies, to growing exports, and to jobs.
Hon David Cunliffe Link to this
If the Minister is measuring all of his Government’s policies by their impact on jobs, why has there been an increase in unemployment of 24,000, while at the same time Australia has managed to hold unemployment flat for the last 3 months—
Mr SPEAKERHon David Cunliffe Link to this
—and does he not now regret not being more active in protecting Kiwi jobs?
I had called the honourable Prime Minister—I am sorry, I mean the Hon Bill English—because I thought the Minister had finished his question.
The member might have listened to what I just said about questions that contain statements, and about going on indefinitely. The member had asked a perfectly good question and I was calling the Hon Bill English to answer it.
The member may not have realised it but there has been a global recession and, in fact, our policies cannot influence that directly.
Clearly, if large companies moved offshore it would cost thousands of jobs. I am surprised that the party that says it stands up for workers advocates an emissions trading system that would cost thousands of jobs.
Has the Minister seen any reports about Governments saddling taxpayers with extra debt by reckless borrowing?
Yes, I have added up the promises of Labour so far this year, which amount to $6 billion of extra borrowing. Alongside its policy—
Hon David Cunliffe Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I think it has been traversed before in this House that, firstly, the Minister has no responsibility for Labour Party policy, and, secondly, frankly he is making up policies that Labour has not announced.