Wall Louisa: Supplementary Estimates — Imprest Supply Debate 
Wall Louisa: Supplementary Estimates — Imprest Supply Debate 
[Volume:648;Page:16878] 
LOUISA WALL (Labour) 
: 
 Kia ora Mr Deputy Speaker. Tena koutou katoa. It is my pleasure to add to the korero about the Appropriation (2007/08 Supplementary Estimates) Bill as a member of the Labour-led Government and in support of Dr Michael Cullen. 
Dr Cullen is a man whom we all love on this side of the House—and I know that the Opposition is envious of us for having such a brain in our ranks because it does not have anyone like him on its side—for his brilliance in his role as Minister of Finance and for his deeds today and tomorrow as Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations. Michael is loved not just by his whanau in Labour but maybe by iwi leaders who in light of the massive deals brokered under Dr Cullen have recently called for future Ministers of Finance also to hold the Treaty of Waitangi negotiations portfolio. I think it is more about Michael and the way he operates than merely about his holding these dual portfolios. 
Labour is still delivering for our country and it has so much more to do. We know what we want to do. We do not just tell people what they want to hear; we talk to them and tell them what we believe in—no slogans just good and substantial policy. I admit we do not have 14 policies; actually we have hundreds of policies. In fact we like to announce these every day. We will not be waiting until after the election like the Opposition. 
I note that in the last week Maurice Williamson has said that the detail of National’s supposed broadband policy will not be released until after the election. Brave are they not? Not even! And what about Anne Tolley on education funding? To the North Shore principals she gave a commitment to a 20 percent increase in operations grants costing up to $370 million. Then in the  
Oamaru Mail 
 it was reported she “made no pragmatic commitment” and to the Auckland Primary Principals Association breakfast on 19 June she said there will be no extra funding for education on top of the cost of living. So it was more money for one; oh no better keep it the same for another; and oh no actually you are going to get less for the third. That is what is called great and principled National policy. 
That is what happens when people do not know what they stand for and when they adjust their speeches to fit the audience. We know that National’s real intention is privatisation. John Key has been clear that he wants more money for private schools. He said on  
Agenda 
: “—look I’m not gonna put a number on it today but maybe it’s 30 million you know that sort of range I don’t know the exact number.” Oh yeah! And on the sale of State assets he said it would not be “in the first term of the National government” but the public does not want to hear that so maybe it would be not at all. Yeah right! National is all about user-pays and looking after oneself not about caring about one’s fellow Kiwi and certainly not about caring about workers. 
So I come back to our policy because Labour has plenty and a plan for the future. What have we done recently for workers? Here is some good policy announced by Minister of Labour Trevor Mallard at the weekend. To better protect casual and temporary workers he has committed the Department of Labour to developing a code of employment practice for casual and non-standard employment which will make it easier for employers to understand and comply with their obligations to casual and temporary workers. This will help to better clarify whether a worker is casual or permanent and what entitlements he or she can get. I quote the Minister: “The proposed changes demonstrate the government’s commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of the workforce and to providing an employment environment that is conducive to all parties conducting their relationship in good faith.” Not bad Trev! That is in addition to raising the minimum wage to $12 an hour. I note again that when we became the Government in 1999 the minimum wage was $7 for adults and $4.20 for under-20s. Today it is at $12 and it will not stay at that level. 
On Labour’s watch we have seen 345000 more jobs created seen unemployment fall by more than half and seen it stay below 4 percent for 4 years. What other policies of ours can I highlight? What about the reduction in the cost of seeing the doctor and getting a standard prescription; 20 hours’ free early childhood education; and the expansion of access to health services screening and immunisation? Not bad. 
But wait there is more! Let us look at a runaway success—in fact a policy that would be a six in any politico’s playing field—and that is the mighty KiwiSaver. We will ensure that employer contributions and employer tax credits continue because we believe in workers and their families saving for a future and in their employers contributing to this which is contrary to what the National Party believes. More than 670000 Kiwis love the scheme. As I have noted before National members voted against it not just once; oh no they voted against it 40 times. 
So what is National’s plan for the future under the leadership of John Key? I do not think National mambers know but I know that he loves our policies. About our student loan policy John Key said in November 2005 that it was unaffordable and an irresponsible cost to the country. But in January 2008 he said: “We will keep interest-free student loans for tertiary students.” Labour has the policy; National has none. About being nuclear-free John Key in October 2003 said it was bad news for economic growth and for our job market. John Key said in September 2007: “we’re going to stick with the anti-nuclear legislation.” Labour has the policy; National has none. 
Now I want to highlight someone else who thinks that Labour has the policy. In the Salvation Army’s May 2008 press release it said of our Working for Families tax credit and income-abatement increases: “Lower-income working families will really benefit from the changes to tax thresholds such as the new lower 12.5 per cent rate for income up to $14000 as well as increases to Working for Families. This is good news. … It is pleasing that the Government has been able to fund these initiatives while at the same time protecting existing social investments.” That is exactly what we aim to do: to continue to add value to and enhance public investment in education health care social agencies and other important services. 
Finally I want to comment on what Chris Tremain said in the House during the debate on the Taxation (Personal Tax Cuts Annual Rates and Remedial Matters) Bill when he said: “I am a relatively new boy to this House. I am from a generation of people who are not interested in the political battles of the 1980s and 1990s—the debates over the Viet Nam War or the Springbok Tour.” He says this not as a representative of those of us who were still at primary school at the time—I was 9 and he 12 by all accounts—but obviously as a member of the National Party under the protection of a leader who cannot remember what position he took on such issues. 
We know where Labour stood and we know where we stand on these issues. We can all remember because our actions then and now are based on principles of fairness and justice and on ensuring that the rights of those who are most vulnerable are protected. And yes we believe in being part of an international community. And yes we did not go to Iraq because of the same principles and values that made members on this side of the House fight those political battles of the 1980s and 1990s and that have relevance today. 
Finally I have faith in Kiwis. The media are championing “Time for a change” because our leadership is stable and consistent and knows where it is going. But just like last time we are the underdogs and from the viewpoint of our collective national psyche there are no better winners than those who had no chance. 
Election 2008: may the best team win. Kia ora.