Shearer David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Shearer David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 04 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:6995. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
3. 
DAVID SHEARER (Leader of the Opposition) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Does he stand by his statement “…You can trust us. If we say we’re going to do something we do it. If we don’t we don’t … that’s why I’ve stuck to my guns and I haven’t campaigned on one thing and done something different.”? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister) 
: 
 Yes. That is why we campaigned on delivering a whole range of policies that have made New Zealand a better place including putting 600 more police on the streets bringing in tougher bail laws increasing elective surgery by 35000 operations a year shortening cancer patient waiting-times funding Plunket 24/7 funding Herceptin and boosting front-line services including 800 more full-time permanent staff doctors and 2000 more nurses in our district health boards. 
David Shearer 
: Does he stand by his statement: “And I think New Zealanders will judge me on not just how I respond to the big issues of the day but also how I treat people who are marginalised and in need.”; if so what will he do to address inequality which has increased to the highest level ever under his Government? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: Yes I do stand by that statement. If you look at the Government’s record despite the very difficult economic times we have actually run a deficit that has protected the most vulnerable people. That has included substantial Working for Families payments without adjustments. That has included a programme for rheumatic fever. That has included programmes in a number of areas to help those who are down on their luck. So no one can really argue that this Government in very difficult economic times has not made great strides to try to assist those who are least well off. 
David Shearer 
: Does he stand by his statement: “… I am proud to be the Prime Minister who takes responsibility for the fact that unemployment capped at 7 percent in this country” and why is he now not taking responsibility for the fact that it has exceeded 7.3 percent? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: Well for a start-off I do take responsibility and secondly what I can say is that we live in a world where the international conditions are difficult—we accept that. But the Government can and does do things that are within its control. As examples of the things that we have done to try to create more jobs we have brought in the 90-day trial period which has created more than 13000 jobs; we have introduced the starting out wage to lower the barrier to work for our youngest workers; we have clarified the status of an independent contractor which saw 3000 people working on  
The Hobbit 
 movies we have set a 9-month time for consenting projects of national significance we have vigorously pursued free-trade agreements we have reduced the cost to business of the emissions trading scheme we have increased investment in infrastructure we have reduced— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! I think the Prime Minister has given a sufficient answer. 
David Shearer 
: Has he kept his promise on early childhood education that “We will keep 20 hours and maintain existing subsidies and controls.”? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: Yes 20 hours remains. 
David Shearer 
: Does he regret standing in Westpac Stadium saying: “… the equivalent of this entire stadium—and more—leaves every year to live permanently in Australia … I’m convinced we can give them a reason and a purpose to stay …” given that the only stadium in the country that could now host the numbers leaving is Eden Park? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: Yes I do stand by that. If one looks overall at migration over the period of time that National has been in office there are more people in New Zealand than there were beforehand. We are having a little bit of a flood but nothing more serious than we have seen internationally. If we do want to send a lot of people overseas I guess the way to do it is to have more inflation a capital gains tax basically give Working for Families payments to beneficiaries and have Russel Norman as the Minister of Finance which I understand is only millimetres away. The Green Party made a— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! 
David Shearer 
: Given New Zealand has the highest unemployment rate in 13 years with the highest emigration rate ever the worst inequality ever and a fiscal policy that is based on selling New Zealand’s assets does he stand by his statement that if he left tomorrow he will leave the country in better shape than he found it? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: Yes. And a couple of things: I am not leaving tomorrow but then again I am not the one facing a vote in February.