Lotu-Iiga Sam: Taxation (Budget Measures) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Lotu-Iiga Sam: Taxation (Budget Measures) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2428. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA (National—Maungakiekie) 
: 
 It is my honour and pleasure to stand and talk about this Taxation (Budget Measures) Bill. Today has been a historic day. It has been a historic day because we have seen clearly in this House the difference between true leadership in John Key the Prime Minister and a make-believe pretender in David Shearer. When the two leaders spoke today we saw the reactions from the respective benches. The reactions were of positivity clapping and handshakes from the National benches. We looked across at the Labour benches and we saw a lot of planning and backstabbing because we do not know who the leader is today. 
But it was about John Key’s leadership in managing the finances. This is a responsible Budget. It is a Budget that will put New Zealand back on the track to recovery. It is a Budget that will get us to surplus by 2014-15. It is also a Budget that smoothes out the rough edges of the recession protecting the vulnerable by investing funds in both health and education as well as in science spending. It is also about creating jobs because the only way we will get out of the economic mess that we inherited from Labour is by creating jobs. There have been in the last 2 years 60000 net new jobs and we estimate that in the next 4 years 154000 will be created. 
I would like to also acknowledge the work of the Hon Bill English. Bill English has shown a plan in his fourth Budget. In his first Budget he spoke about the road to recovery. He spoke about the mess that we inherited from Labour and what we would do about it. In his second Budget he talked about building recovery. He talked about the tax switch which was fairer to all New Zealanders put more money into New Zealanders back pockets and put a lot more trust and confidence into New Zealanders. Last year the Budget despite it being an election year was built on building our future and it was a responsible balanced Budget. But this year we talk about investing in our future. And what does investing in our future look like? Well it looks like increasing spending on science and innovation because we the National Government are about building a more productive and competitive economy. 
The Prime Minister also talked about the Future Investment Fund and how those proceeds will go towards modernising schools and building roads of national significance—which I know that the Hon Gerry Brownlee will be happy about. It will also be about hospital redevelopments. The investment of $4.42 billion in new spending is focused on front-line public services. So we know that health and education will get more spending. We know that law and order is part of National’s focus in terms of getting the crime statistics down. I also know intimately as chairman of the Social Services Committee the welfare reforms that we are putting in place. And we cannot forget about rebuilding Christchurch. Christchurch may have the best rugby team in New Zealand but it also requires assistance from the Government and from all New Zealanders. 
What does the increase in the science and innovation fund look like? Well it is $1.3 billion a year—[ 
Interruption 
] That is right Simon O’Connor the member for Tamaki; it is $1.3 billion every year right through to 2015-16. I acknowledge Minister Joyce for creating a superministry that will be the engine room and the catalyst for providing the framework and conditions for us to get out of our economic predicament. It is also about $166 million that will be put towards developing a new Advanced Technology Institute. But it is also about $100 million extra to increase the Performance-based Research Fund. I look at members across the aisle there. They do not believe in performance. They do not believe in performance in schools. They do not believe in performance in public services. They just do not care because their idea of growth in this country is to tax more to borrow more to spend more and to hope a lot more. 
The Future Investment Fund is about ultra-fast broadband. We heard from the Hon Bill English that it is about planning for spending on 21st century schools. I know that this is exciting in my electorate of Maungakiekie—from Point England to Onehunga. Kids are thirsting for knowledge they are thirsting for a breakthrough in technology and they certainly will welcome the investment that we are going to put into broadband and into our schools. 
We have also set some targets. We are the only Government of recent note to set targets: 85 percent of 18-year-olds to have National Certificate of Educational Achievement level 2 or equivalent by the year 2017. That is up from the current rate of 68 percent. Some would call it ambitious but we would call it aspirational because we are a Government that believes in aspiration hope and expectations. It will help Maori and Pacific audiences because it is about lifting expectations lifting achievement and lifting the quality of teaching in our schools. 
We will also be about reducing prisoner reoffending by 25 percent by the year 2017. That is right—25 percent. Recently I visited Paremoremo jail to check on the programmes. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: And they let the member go? 
Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA 
: The member for Hutt South might actually get to know Paremoremo very well given the court case currently facing him. He could get to know the boys at Parry very very well—thank you very much Mr Mallard. 
I also want to acknowledge Minister Turia. She has put $6 million into a Pacific Innovation Fund. That will help with services across the various portfolios whether it be education health or justice. 
This Budget as I said at the beginning builds on the Budgets of 2009 2010 and 2011. This is a Government with a plan for growth. This is a Government with a plan for employment and opportunities. And this is a Government that is responsibly looking after our finances. I commend this bill to the House. Thank you.