SpeechTONI SEVERIN (ACT): Thank you Madam Speaker. I rise on behalf of the ACT Party to say that we want a healthy economy. Cost of living is going up for New Zealanders and small businesses. The impact COVID has on New Zealand small businesses is only starting to show. It's too late for our borders to be opened in October for the horticulture sector for this year's harvest and much of our tourist industry will not survive this winter. If unemployment is low why is there a staff shortage as many businesses in New Zealand are looking for staff? Our farming community our hospitality—these are just some of these areas that we're lacking staff. The Prime Minister I'm sure said that businesses are open to operate—yes. However today I just received a lovely letter from the chair of the Christchurch Central City Business Association. There's about a thousand businesses within the four avenues of Christchurch and they have over 500 members. This is probably only a snapshot of the businesses but more than 90 percent of their respondents said the red light traffic setting was having (a) a negative and a very negative impact on the business and (b) a negative to a very negative impact on the number of people visiting their businesses. Yes businesses may be open but people are not spending. It's making it hard for them to operate and most of them are also concerned that nearly over 80 percent of those who responded to the survey are very concerned for their mental health or the mental health of their colleagues or employees. We just need to see the signs around businesses around New Zealand that are asking for staff. But the biggest concern that I have is that mental health for all. Most businesses are now propping up their own businesses with money using their houses as collateral for mortgages. We can't survive and nor can these small businesses if we don't have the people to work them and if our economy is not boosting them. We just keep passing the money like adding costs to small businesses and that has to get passed on to somebody. Who do businesses pass that on to? The everyday New Zealander. They are already struggling as it is with the everyday costs. So if our supply chains and everything keeps going up from transport to get our goods and especially if we cannot get our harvesting off our fruit and vegetables are already going off. Most people are saying when they go into the shop that lettuce is already winter prices and we've never seen that before—well especially in my lifetime and that's been a wee bit long. But the biggest comment also from this lovely survey that the chair of central city business sent to me—I actually gave some suggestions and this is what ACT prides ourselves on is actually listening to the people that are out there. The biggest thing that they said is to reduce the current restrictions. The current red light setting is not consistent with the Government's original framework which has set out the requirements to move between the traffic light settings. The current settings are causing significant damage to business mental health and livelihoods. They also suggested to immediately reduce the isolation requirements. The requirements are strict and unworkable and result in a large number of people without COVID isolating and the result is many businesses will not be able to open for trade. Provide free rapid antigen tests to businesses and individuals so that actual cases of COVID-19 can be managed and businesses can operate safely. These are just some of the suggestions that this association has sent us. We need to listen. We need those people to know that we are listening because their livelihoods their employees' livelihoods depend on us. We need to look after them.But also on a final note we also have to identify the impact that this COVID is going to have on prisoners within our prison system with restricted visit rights and backlog in courts. It's not good for their mental health and their frustrations—they are going to be taking that out on Corrections staff which they already are. So be aware. Thank you Madam Speaker.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): I call Tangi Utikere—five-minute call.