Clark DavidHon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs): Talofa lava Madam Speaker. It is a delight to speak after that member Melissa Lee who began her contribution by saying that she thought it was the Government's job to protect the most vulnerable and to grow the economy and I take great delight in sharing with the member something from Budget 2021. This Budget was about protecting the most vulnerable we've raised the main benefits reversing the changes of the mother of all Budgets" and the forecasts in it are extraordinary by global standards. New Zealand is set to outstrip many of our comparator countries by a margin. In fact Standard and Poor's issued the first upgrade for any economy since the pandemic to New Zealand and the first upgrade they've issued for New Zealand since 2003. So we have a Budget that delivered on the very things that Melissa Lee was asking for one that protects the most vulnerable and delivers the economic growth that ensures we can provide the hospitals education roads the Hillside Workshops—did I mention Hillside Workshop?—and other things that our country needs for its future success.This Government is absolutely focused on securing the recovery from COVID-19. We've known and we've seen in evidence that the best economic recovery is the best health response. So if we focus on getting that right—and thus far with the help of the team of 5 million we have had terrific results in that respect. We've seen that that has led through to good economic growth to the lowest unemployment we've seen in a long time—4.7 percent currently extraordinary 15000 extra people in work in the last three months. I mean these are amazing numbers but behind these numbers are the stories of real people—real people who are benefiting from an economy that is going in these difficult and challenging times far better than anyone expected. Far better than the National Party expected at the election! The National Party campaigned on a debt level—which they have no plan for because they're in such jolly disarray on that side of the House—they campaigned on a debt level that is higher than the one that this Budget delivers on. We're still also helping our most vulnerable along the way; something they refused to promise to do.Well it is a delight to speak in the Budget debate. The Treasury's forecasting that 200000 more people will be in paid jobs over the next four years. The Budget projections with the changes made around the main benefits and other changes are projecting to lift up to 33000 children out of poverty. There is a long way to go with child poverty in this country but we are making real and meaningful gain—real and meaningful gains with the laser-like focus of the Prime Minister on addressing child poverty in this country. This wellbeing Budget is focused through a lens of making sure we are addressing those issues which are biggest in New Zealand. We're having a balanced approach we keep the lid on debt but we invest where we need to invest where evidence says we should invest; like previous Budgets that have invested in mental health to make sure over time every New Zealander will be able to access free mental health services; like the focus on infrastructure in the COVID Budget to make sure there was stimulus in the economy; like the focus in this Budget on people out of poverty and tackling our child poverty challenges as a country. These are long-term issues. No one expects these issues to be all solved overnight but they do expect to see progress and this is a Government that is delivering.I want to say a couple of quick things about Hillside Workshops down my way. What a terrific investment the Government has made absolutely terrific investment. It's not so long ago that they were down to 10 workers at the Hillside Workshops.Hon David Bennett: And it was a waste of money.Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: It was clear that the National Government was trying to derail Hillside for good and members on that side say investing in local jobs is a waste of money but we believe in upskilling New Zealanders in getting those high-value jobs in our country and building back better. We're rebuilding with pride we're seeing 250 construction jobs through that reconstruction of the Hillside Workshops through what's gone into this Budget and when completed there'll be 45 staff needed to deliver on the contracts for all of the money that's been put aside. So this is an opportunity for the South. It's interesting—rail is one of those areas where around the world people are investing. They're investing in Europe and elsewhere because we've got climate change goals we need to address. It's also true that rail is one of those rare areas that has such a rich history and such a rich future ahead of it. It is a really powerful investment that invests again in one of those long-term challenges we've got.My time is nearly up but I'm so proud to be a part of a Government that is securing our recovery from COVID-19 and that is doing what matters for New Zealanders."