Collins Judith: General Debate 
Collins Judith: General Debate 
[Volume:646;Page:15730] 
JUDITH COLLINS (National—Clevedon) 
: 
 On Saturday I was in Papakura my electorate at a march for law and order and for more police for Papakura more visible police supporting the police. I was very very concerned by the reaction of people. They felt that this Government did not care about them. In fact what we saw on Saturday was my counterpart Ruth Dyson together with Maryan Street Moana Mackey and Steve Chadwick busily creating a personal attack on John Key—a personal attack they thought was so funny they wanted to share it with the people of New Zealand. 
That pretty much sums it up. The good people of Papakura care about their city and care about the fact that grocery prices are now completely out of control. The price of butter rose 82 percent in the year to March the price of bread has gone up 12 percent in the year to March it is 21 percent for milk and 44 percent for cheese. These are not luxury items. These are staples. These are basic food items. Possibly they do not go anywhere near the kitchen table of the Prime Minister but this is what the people of Papakura are concerned about. They are concerned about being able to feed their children. They are concerned about their children getting a good education that means something. They are concerned about graffiti and that is why they wanted me to support the bills on graffiti. They are concerned about the fact that violent crime is now at the highest rate it has ever been. 
They are concerned about interest rates. They are concerned about the fact that they are now paying 10 to 11 percent in interest on their first mortgages. They are concerned that they have bought houses with a 10 percent deposit or in some cases no deposit and now they are finding that their mortgage is worth more than their house. They are concerned about the fact that although we have had good job statistics over the last few years these will not last while we have these bad conditions. They are very very concerned. All they can hear from the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister is that the people of Papakura do not matter to them. 
Yesterday we heard John Key ask Helen Clark why it is that the Government is not talking about the things that matter to the ordinary Kiwis of New Zealand. He asked: “Why are you spending so much time attacking John Key? Why aren’t you attacking the real issues in this country the things that matter—debt the fact that people cannot pay their bills and the fact that they do not feel safe at night? Why is that?”. Helen Clark said “Diddums.” She said “Silly old John Key worrying about that!”. 
Chris Auchinvole 
: What did she say? 
JUDITH COLLINS 
: She said “Diddums.” That is exactly what she said and then she laughed. That is what she did. Of course she does not need to care really does she in her mind? She does not have to worry about these things. She does not have to worry about any of it. What did Michael Cullen say yesterday when he was asked why it is that they are indulging in these personal attacks on John Key rather than dealing with the real issues? He said: “This is about a contest of power.” That is what he said. Who is in power—that is exactly what it is about because that is all they care about. He did not say “This is about my vision for New Zealand.” He did not ask “Who’s going to produce a better New Zealand?”. He did not ask “Who’s going to raise up New Zealand’s living standards?”. He did not say any of that. He said “It’s all about power.” and that is all he cares about. 
Yet today we saw it again. There was personal attack after personal attack on this side of the House from the Labour Government. There was a personal attack on John Key and a personal attack on some of my colleagues on the front bench. There was a constant personal attack. Who did they get to do it? It was Trevor Mallard the one they can always rely on to do their dirt and the one they always wheel out every time Helen Clark is in trouble. The people of New Zealand have had enough of this. Maybe it was fun one time maybe it was entertaining but I can tell members that someone who has a $400000 mortgage and a house that is now worth $380000 is in trouble and in trouble big time. That is what is happening to many people in my area and that is what is happening throughout this country. What does the Government do? It has a contest about power and it has a little ditty that it puts out. Those people thought that was funny. They could not see that this is not just about sideshows it is about people.