Kaye Nikki: General Debate 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Kaye Nikki: General Debate 
[Sitting date: 17 June 2009. Volume:655;Page:4378. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) 
: 
 The Opposition has learnt absolutely nothing since the general election. All it knows how to do is attack the Prime Minister and spend. This Government is focused on helping people. It is really tough out there for people at the moment. People are trying to live on less money as New Zealanders spend less and tighten their belts. All that the Opposition is interested in is attacking the Prime Minister and in my view advocating people to spend money they do not have. Some of the people who are being hardest hit by the recession are the hundreds and thousands of self-employed people who do not have the security of regular salaries but rely on the customers they get. They are the people who are battling out there. They are the taxi drivers of central Auckland and Wellington the dairy owners and people who own a small business in the food industry and the self-employed builders around New Zealand who are finding it tougher as people do not have the cash to pay their mortgage let alone spend a bit on DIY. 
The reason our Budget was so well-received is that New Zealanders understand this very simple fact: if New Zealanders are having to tighten their belts because of having less cash then so should the Government. The Budget has been very well-received around New Zealand both on the streets of Auckland Central and in other members’ electorates. Members of the public businesses and commentators have acknowledged that the Budget is well balanced sensible and prudent for these tough economic times. In fact Westpac said “Budget 2009 strikes a reasonable balance between delivering support in the economy’s hour of need and being responsible about long term expenses and debt.” 
The fact is that times are tough but they would be much tougher if Labour were in power. Labour rather than showing fiscal restraint in an understanding of the situation that hard-working New Zealanders are facing wants to spend more—not just a little bit more; it wants to spend $5 billion more. Labour’s fantasy commitments include promises to restore KiwiSaver $947 million; research and development tax credits $221 million; and the Fast Forward fund $650 million. The list goes on: more overseas aid $65 million. Let us talk about Mount Albert. Labour wants to spend an extra $1.5 billion on 4 kilometres of Waterview tunnel. That must be the most expensive 4 kilometres in New Zealand. 
We are in a recession and Labour wants to talk about attacking the Prime Minister and spending more; not just a little bit more but $5 billion more. Members opposite have been referred to as the “credit card Opposition” but I am not aware of a credit card that has a $5 billion limit. Are other members aware of such a credit card? Labour’s approach is irresponsible and puts at risk our economy in the future. The next generation of New Zealanders would be faced with an albatross of debt around their necks. 
The other thing New Zealanders understand which Labour does not seem to have grasped is the dramatic change in our economic position. When we were elected last year the economy had already started to decline and the world economy has been fast deteriorating since. In the 2008 Budget we faced a $1 billion surplus. By the time of the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update just before the election it had turned to a $1 billion deficit. In fact Labour has left us with a decade of deficits. The current situation shows falling economic growth rising unemployment high inflation at 3.4 percent and a rising current account deficit of $16.1 billion. Times are tough and we have delivered a Budget that reflects the change in our economic situation but also reflects what the many New Zealanders out there understand and are doing. They are tightening their belts not going on a giant spend-up as Labour would have New Zealand do—a $5 billion spend-up that there is no money for. 
Let us look at what the members on the other side of the House have focused on today. They have not focused on the economy. They have not talked about the hard-working New Zealanders who are struggling out there. They have talked about the Mt Albert by-election. Well I will tell you one thing right now: if you do not start to focus on what matters if you do not start to focus on how to help those New Zealanders who are really struggling at the moment then you will be staying on the opposite side of the House for a very long time. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. 
NIKKI KAYE 
: Come on! 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member does not comment when another member has raised a point of order. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I think I let the first four references to “you” go but at the next two I interjected on the member to try to help her. I think it was on the seventh reference that I thought it was probably time to say something. She is an experienced member around here Mr Speaker and she should be able to stop bringing you into the debate. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I thank the honourable member. I remind members that they must use the third person and that when they refer to “you” they are referring to the Speaker. They must not bring the Speaker into the debate. It is for good reason that we use the third person. It is less personal and leads to less disorder. 
NIKKI KAYE 
: You always know that you are giving a good speech when Trevor Mallard interrupts you. The Budget has been very well-received because New Zealanders are realistic and they know— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I really hoped that the member would be able to get two words out without breaching the Speaker’s ruling that has just been made. She is an intelligent member and she is generally a likeable member but she has to learn how to speak in the Chamber. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member makes a perfectly good point. The member speaking must not use the word “you” in any circumstance because it always refers to the Speaker. 
NIKKI KAYE 
: Thank you Mr Speaker and thank you to Mr Mallard. The Budget has been very well-received because New Zealanders are realistic and they know the challenges ahead. It was so well-received that we improved our credit rating.