Scott Alastair: Appropriation (2014/15 Supplementary Estimates) Bill Imprest Supply (First for 2015/16) Bill — Second ReadingsText is subject to correctionScott Alastair: Appropriation (2014/15 Supplementary Estimates) Bill Imprest Supply (First for 2015/16) Bill — Second Readings[Sitting date: 17 June 2015. Volume:706;Page:4525. Text is subject to correction.]ALASTAIR SCOTT (National—Wairarapa):I was going to start by responding to some of the comments of the previous speaker Clayton Cosgrove but I could not think of anything to respond to so there is no need. I would like to focus on two themes: productivity which is the theme throughout this appropriations legislation and value for the taxpayer dollar.First of all productivity. Productivity needs to be explained. It is where a smaller amount of input is put into something to receive the same amount of output or the same input receives a greater level of output. That is an increase in productivity an increase in wealth and an increase in living standards. I wanted to clarify that because the Leader of the Opposition is against the idea of increasing productivity. I will explain that in a minute. Increased productivity can come about by new inventions—like the steam engine for example. It enabled massive increases in productivity because instead of having labourers weave and spin we had machines to do it. Telephones enabled increased productivity because we no longer needed the pony express or pigeons. It put people out of work but it enabled people’s standards of living to rise. It certainly put the pigeon breeder out of business and it certainly put the horse breeder out of business but these machines and this increase in productivity enabled people’s standard of living to rise.It was disappointing to hear the Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little last month when Xero a high-tech company in Wellington won the top award at the Hi-Tech Awards. That was no mean feat. Xero is part of this age. It is part of the electronic age. These phones have put people out of business. These things have put torch makers and battery makers out of business. They have put photography companies and video companies out of business. That is because these things are enabling people to be more productive. So it was disappointing to hear the Leader of the Opposition say last month that this application that Xero was developing—this application that was going to increase people’s time availability and contribute to the wealth of all New Zealanders—for all its brilliance accountants would be losing work as a result. That is exactly the point. Who is concerned about having fewer accountants in the economy? That is what productivity means. This legislation the Appropriation (2014/15) Supplementary Estimates) Bill and this Budget are focused on increasing productivity.What I would like to talk about now is the fact that we are using technology more and more to increase productivity. We are having more police time on the streets for example because police officers have got access to technology. That is smart investment. It is smart investment that we need to be put in place by the Government in a productive manner. What I would like to say is that this economy that we have which is increasing at 3.5 percent per annum this economy that has produced 190000 new jobs this economy that has one of the highest participation rates on the planet at just under 70 percent is the economy that enables us to provide more hip replacements have better teachers and have more efficient cops on the street. That is why I am supporting this appropriation legislation. This is the 21st century not the 20th century and not the 19th century which the Labour Party continues to set itself in. Labour has to get out of that quagmire and think laterally think innovatively and think about the taxpayer dollar in the most productive way.The taxpayers who are working hard to support their families and community are also increasing their productivity to increase their wealth and their incomes for their families. They need us to invest in what we can to increase productivity. What we need to do today is focus on the cause of our social problems. Rather than spending our way out of trouble we are focusing on the bud of the problem. We are not spending lots of money too late at the bottom of the cliff. That is why we are investing in the 38000 single parents who have come off the benefit in the last few years. If you think about that from a business proposition if you can take—and I am generalising—a single mum off the benefit and potentially her kids and her grandchildren off the benefit there is not going to be this vicious recycling of beneficiaries. That is going to save the taxpayer millions of dollars thereby increasing the strength of the Government’s balance sheet. That is just one aspect. Of course the social aspect is that we have got more people in work participating setting an example for their children and their grandchildren to contribute to their families’ welfare and to the community’s welfare. That is the piece that Labour is missing. That is the ground that Labour used to claim that it had. But Labour can no longer claim that. Labour can no longer claim that it cares for the people at the bottom of the pile. This Budget invests in families that are worse off than everyone else. That is part of the $790 million investment in families.I will get to the Budget and the surplus or lack of it because I think it needs to be addressed. Grant Robertson and Mr Cosgrove continue to focus on the swings and roundabouts of what it means to make a surplus or a deficit—whether it is up $100 million or down $100 million or whether it is up $200 million or down $200 million. But they are missing the whole point. The whole point is that we are heading in the right direction. If you want to use the analogy of one’s own income—if one was on an income of $80000 and had the prospect of an increase in income an increase in salary or wage or whatever it might be then does it really matter at the end of the year that one’s bank balance is up $100 or down $100? Does it really matter? What really matters is the focus that you are on. The focus of this Government is the future. The focus is not on today; the focus is on tomorrow. That is what this Budget sets up for future generations. These investments today are not just about the people of today; they are about the economy and the well-being in the future of those at the bottom of the pile. What I say to Opposition members is “Don’t focus on the surplus or the deficit. It’s really just a little swings and roundabouts.”—as they know. The important thing is the direction. We are heading in the right direction for the people of New Zealand. Productivity is important. It is the very strong focus of this legislation. Taxpayer money and the concern for that is a focus of this bill. The right direction for this country is being set up by this bill. Thank you.