Macindoe TimHon TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West): New Zealanders who were watching that performance may be surprised to hear that that was the Minister for ACC and I mention that because I think he said more about the National Party than he did about his portfolio in the last eight months. He has never mentioned any of the significant challenges. Today he's got medical specialists out on strike—he said nothing. They were out on strike last week. They're going to be again next week—and two more to come after that.It's part of a pattern of strike action that we are seeing under this particular Government whether it's the nurses—the teachers are rearing to go—Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) staff or IRD. We've got strikes all over the country because they are fed up with a Government that promised so much at the polls and is now consistently failing to deliver.Last night I spoke in the Estimates debate in the House and I focused on the inept and abusive performance that we were treated to at the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee by the current Minister of Foreign Affairs. It truly was an appalling performance—an embarrassing insult to New Zealanders and particularly to those of our partners overseas who rely on us to be good partners in important strategic matters.Today we have seen more of the same from that man now masquerading as the Prime Minister of this country. And wasn't his performance at question time appalling? The Leader of the Opposition today put serious questions to him over a very important initiative that the National Party has worked on for a long time done all the detailed work and had today been proud to deliver. I was at that press conference today and so proud to see the Leader of the Opposition and in particular Dr Shane Reti who has done such a great job and Michael Woodhouse Chris Bishop and others—I salute them all because this is an important issue. It was interesting to hear Chlöe Swarbrick. I presume she was indicating that the Green Party will support that bill.Back home in my fine city which you know well I had the privilege of being the patron of the Epilepsy Waikato Charitable Trust and I know that members of that fine organisation will be delighted to hear the announcement that Dr Reti and the Leader of the Opposition made today.The Leader of the Opposition has as he's just mentioned completed approximately 70 public meetings right from the Far North down to Invercargill and I want to commend him not only on his stamina but also on the great crowds that he drew and the tremendous connection that he made with those who attended. It was approximately 10000 people who turned out and one of the best attended meetings was in Hamilton. I have to say that just about everybody from Hamilton was there that day apart sadly from the two electorate members because unfortunately the MP for Hamilton East and I flew up flew over this very extraordinary phenomenon of fog which we hardly ever see in Hamilton which was unfortunately present that day. We could see the airport but as the pilot attempted to land he couldn't. He had to take off and we were taken back to Wellington. So we missed it but fortunately everybody else in Hamilton was there and he did incredibly well.What people were telling him was that they are not happy with this Government. They do not like the way that it was put together. They do not like the way that it is irresponsibly splashing the cash in unstructured and at times totally inappropriate ways. They particularly dislike the slush fund that the Minister for Regional Economic Development is going around the country—well actually he's not; he's really just going around Northland and making the odd visit outside Northland thinking Oh well I suppose if I've given $100 million here I'd better give $5 somewhere else outside Northland."They do not like the fact that this particular Government has far more to say about what they think should be happening than actual policies to deliver. And what you see is a group of parties in Government who are fundamentally underprepared to come into Government. They didn't expect to be there—it's only because Winston Peters decided that he would put them there that they are—and now they've got "review-itis" as they've got more committees than I've had hot dinners going around on every potential conceivable topic trying to figure out what they should be doing. They're spending a fortune on reviews but they're not spending it on the really important areas that they promised that they would deliver on and that's why they've got the nurses out on strike. That's why MBIE and IRD and the teachers are all planning to strike as well—because they are fundamentally letting down the people who put them there.And today from the Minister for Social Development we've seen a classic example of their muddled thinking as she refused to answer legitimate questions important questions about a sanction regime that should apply when people who could work refuse to meet their obligations. In the National Party we will always support a compassionate welfare system but we will not support those who ignore their obligations."