Bennett David: Supplementary Estimates — Imprest Supply DebateText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBennett David: Supplementary Estimates — Imprest Supply Debate[Sitting date: 26 June 2013. Volume:691;Page:11328. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Supplementary EstimatesDAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East):Following on from that speech from the member from Epsom John Banks I just want to congratulate the Green Party. I think the central rail loop is something that the Green Party has long advocated for before the Labour Party actually did and it is something that the Green Party should take great pride in—that their advocation for that issue led to fulfilment in National coming to the party unlike the Labour Party over there. That is the party that tried to take credit from the Green Party in this House just at this very last moment and it tried to indicate that that was an issue that the Labour Party had determined many years ago when it was in fact a Green Party issue.It is such a shame that the Labour Party has to try to take things off the Green Party at this stage of the political sphere. It does not accept that the Green Party is the true leader of the left that the Green Party represents new ideas and new vision for the left or that the Green Party is the party of Opposition. It is sad for the party of the Labour Party because that is a party that had a great history in this Parliament. It had a great history in the history of New Zealand in fact. Many great Labour leaders have come through this Parliament. It is a shame that we are seeing the end of the Labour Party. We are seeing the end of the leadership of the Labour Party which it has been so proud of and it is being taken over by the Green Party.That is a very big shame for the Labour Party but it is great news for the New Zealand public. It is great news for the New Zealand public because the New Zealand public will never support the Green Party. The New Zealand public will never support it beyond the fringe elements that will vote for it. The New Zealand public knows that it needs a centrist party that looks after the interests of our economy that looks after the interests of our people that delivers the right social services in education and health and that protects our people through law and order. That is what people want from the Government. That is what they get from a centrist National Party Government. That is what you do not get from a far-left Labour-Greens Government or a far-left Greens-Labour Government as you would see under the Green Party taking the mantle of the left wing.I think the last speaker John Banks touched on that in his speech. He spoke about the good people of Epsom. Well the good people of Epsom are very similar to the good people of Hamilton East. We understand the importance of—Hon Clayton Cosgrove: What they’ve both got a criminal as an MP?DAVID BENNETT: What was that over there?Hon Clayton Cosgrove: They’ve both got an MP with a conviction? I thought Mr Banks was the only one with a conviction. Have you got one as well?DAVID BENNETT: This is the list member from somewhere near Christchurch who could not retain his seat and who is now standing in a nomination that he is going to lose I betcha. Look at this. Next month this will be the time line for Clayton Cosgrove. At the moment Clayton Cosgrove will be standing around. He will be prancing around this Parliament trying to get some media coverage trying to say some things so that he is seen by the people of Christchurch. He will be prancing around for media coverage but then—you wait. In 2 weeks’ time Clayton Cosgrove will go to ground. He will go to ground because he will have had the word by then that the Labour Party hierarchy does not want him to stand for that seat.Hon Member: They don’t want him in Christchurch.DAVID BENNETT: They do not want him there. They know he would not win it. They will go for fresh blood into that seat will they not Clayton Cosgrove? Clayton Cosgrove will come back to this Parliament in a month’s time and he will say “It was never about me. It was never about me. It was not about me. It was just about the party.” This man who always stood for the party—I remember the days when he used to go on the list for the Labour Party. This time he will not be. He is seeking a nomination but he is not going to get it. He knows he is not going to get it and it is a shame for Clayton. I do respect that man. I think he has got a lot of potential in this House. It is a shame for him that he is going to miss out on the nomination for the seat.Hon Clayton Cosgrove: Chris Finlayson wouldn’t even say that.DAVID BENNETT: But going back to this Budget and the mention of Chris Finlayson. Yes Chris Finlayson gave us an excellent exhibition of the history of the Labour Party—how the Labour Party has shafted leader after leader. When we think of the Labour Party at the moment we think of that great political and economic genius in the Labour Party who is stuck in the back row Mr David Cunliffe. He cannot progress from being beside that door. He represents the real Labour Party. He represents the true beliefs of the Labour Party. It is unfortunate that the Labour Party has lost its way. Those true beliefs are very much in line with the Green Party. They are very left-wing politics.But we are looking at a Government that delivers a good balanced Budget for New Zealanders. Let us remember that. New Zealanders out there have some of the lowest interest rates they have had for many many years. New Zealanders out there have a growing economy. Contrary to what the Opposition may say we have a growing economy in this country. New Zealanders out there understand that our Government is rebuilding our second-biggest city. New Zealanders understand that this Government is investing in health and education. New Zealanders understand that they are getting a balanced Budget from a balanced Government that is looking after all their interests. This is a Government that considers the issues looks at what the solutions may be and comes up with proactive sensible solutions that work.This is not a Government that seeks to just take advantage of the winds that may be blowing at that time. This is a Government that looks at the issues and dictates what is needed and infrastructure is a big part of that. When I started this speech Icongratulated the Green Party on its work in that infrastructure field. I think it is very important for Auckland that we see this infrastructure go ahead and it is very important for Hamilton as well because a strong Auckland means a strong Hamilton. It is that simple. Our biggest asset in Hamilton is Auckland and our connection with Auckland is so important. When that rail link goes ahead that is good for Hamilton it is good for New Zealand and it is good for Auckland so it is in the best interests of this country going forward.That is the kind of thing that you see from this Government. We look at what the issues are we look at what the options are and we give the best result. You are seeing a Government that responsibly manages its books. On the left you see an Opposition that wants to have a capital gains tax—not a real capital gains tax that is on every property but an exempted capital gains tax that is discriminatory and against certain groups in the community. That is what they want to do over there. We are building a more productive and competitive economy. The investment—Darien Fenton: Cutting wages.DAVID BENNETT: Cutting wages—it is a load of rubbish from the Labour Party over there. Darien Fenton would not know about wages. She comes into this House and makes comments like that about cutting wages. That is simply not the case. It is not the case. We are building a stronger economy that delivers stronger job opportunities and wages for New Zealanders going forward.We are delivering better public services. Last Friday we had the opening of the new rehabilitation centre for older people at the Waikato District Health Board’s hospital in Hamilton. There has been $400 million spent at that hospital base.Hon John Banks: How much?DAVID BENNETT: There has been $400 million spent on the Waikato District Health Board’s building of the new health base for the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions. My good friend Todd McClay was there to cut the ribbon and open the building.Hon Todd McClay: Fantastic.DAVID BENNETT: Was it not a fantastic building? As Associate Minister of Health I think he enjoyed the opportunity to come and do his first formal opening—Hon Todd McClay: I met hard-working local MPs.DAVID BENNETT: He met hard-working local MPs but he actually met hard-working local doctors and nurses who have worked so hard to make that institution so effective.The fourth thing the Government has been doing is rebuilding Christchurch. We had the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee at the select committee this morning talking about that.Hon Clayton Cosgrove: Where is the big fella?DAVID BENNETT: This is Clayton Cosgrove the member who wants to be a member for Christchurch but will never be the member in Christchurch. Unfortunately he cannot get that seat but it is good to have you here Clayton in your list capacity adding value for the members of Christchurch. I am sure they value it immensely. But that is a big rebuild. It is something that this country needs to do. We cannot leave our second-biggest city alone. The Green Party does not think we need to rebuild that city. The Green Party thinks that if it degenerates into bush that will be great for New Zealand. The Green Party does not want to see any roads or infrastructure in that city. The Green Party does not want to have a rebuilt Christchurch. Well that is fine. That is the Green Party mentality where we are all going to go back to five-acre blocks and raise one cow and one sheep each—The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch): I am sorry to interrupt the honourable member. His time has expired.