Sabin Mike: Budget Debate 
Text is subject to correction 
Sabin Mike: Budget Debate 
[Sitting date: 31 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2787. Text is subject to correction.] 
MIKE SABIN (National—Northland) 
: 
 I can see Brendon Horan’s point. It was such a ripper little contribution I am sure he wanted to get a little sing-song in there before he concluded—never mind. His contribution was second only to the fantastic discussion the chitter-chatter from Julie Anne Genter of the Greens from “Fantasy Island” where she seems to be domiciled.  
Let us get down to this Budget this fourth National Budget which is about staying on track on the four key priorities that this nation needs. This Budget is about responsibly managing the Government’s finances this Budget is about building a more competitive and productive economy this Budget is about ensuring that we have better public services and this Budget is about rebuilding Christchurch. These are the decisions that have been made that reflect the challenges that this nation faces in these tough uncertain global economic times.  
Of course the first challenge that we were confronted with back in 2007 was the fact that New Zealand was going into recession after 8 years of Labour Government. This was a Labour Government that seemed to think that growing the Government is akin to growing the economy. When New Zealand went into recession what we faced was Labour squandering the good times zero growth in the tradable sector massive growth in the Government sector and a whole big bunch of lolly scrambles and bribes for Labour to make its way back into power. That was the picture. So when the global credit crisis actually did strike and one Mr Cullen and one Miss Clark were last seen exiting stage left what we saw was the Labour members scrambling—what was left of them—to get back on to their high horses of Opposition to blame National for the mess that they had made. Oh what a surprise!  
Labour and the members in that corner of the House have never known a better time to be in Opposition. Why is that? They know that they want to be able to blame the National Government for everything that is going on in the country and in the world and they see plenty of opportunities to do that because in “Labour Land” there is no global credit crisis. In “Labour Land” we have not taken a 10 percent hit on our GDP following the devastating earthquakes in Christchurch. In “Labour Land” the Government is to blame for all of this—not mother Nature and not the global credit crisis. But you watch this space on Christchurch because when growth starts to pick up down there what you will hear is the Labour bench saying: “Oh no there is growth only because of what is happening in Christchurch.” Suddenly Christchurch will be back in the frame. Well you cannot have it both ways—plain and simple. The members try but they cannot have it both ways.  
The truth of the matter is that lots of people on that side of the House think it is a pretty good time to be in Opposition because it is all care and no responsibility. They do not have to deal with the challenges and they would not have the gumption to do it anyway. Kiwis have woken up to this and while these guys opposite are playing politics Kiwis are out there getting on with it and doing what they know needs to be done. Households have made the adjustments businesses have made the adjustments and we have supported them to do just that. We have supported them by taking those rough edges off the recession whilst continuing to invest in infrastructure by continuing to invest in health by continuing to invest in science and innovation by continuing to invest in 21st century schools and by continuing to invest in economic growth in tough times. When it all boils down what we have done is what Kiwis want and need. We have set a course back to surplus despite the headwinds that that crowd do not have to sail against. We have set a course and we have stayed to that unfalteringly. That is about recognising what the right decisions are and having the fortitude to actually make them.  
On this side of the House we actually have to do that. That is about having a clear plan focused on getting back to surplus and sticking to it. That is about making tough decisions because that is what New Zealanders want and need from us. That is leadership. That is John Key’s leadership and that is the leadership that resonates with New Zealanders. It is also the reason that the polls are about 20 points apart and have been for about 3 or 4 years like a set of railway tracks. New Zealanders know how important it is to stick to the course. New Zealanders know we need a more productive economy to actually grow jobs. They do not grow on trees; you need a more productive economy. New Zealanders know that we need more efficiency from our public services. New Zealanders know that we need to manage the Government finances as well as we possibly can because that is their money. New Zealanders get that. But in “Labour Land” they do not. How do we know they do not? Because in “Labour Land” they oppose everything we do to try to grow the economy. They oppose a $1.5 million investment in ultra-fast broadband. They oppose the mixed-ownership model. They oppose roads of national significance as do the Greens of course. They oppose more mining and gas exploration. They oppose investment in 21st century schools. They oppose public sector reforms. They oppose the 90-day probation period. They oppose tax reform. They oppose welfare reform. They oppose they oppose they oppose. There is a bit of a theme creeping through.  
They have had a change of leadership although the three Daves cannot quite sort out what is going on from there. The Labour Party is trying to reinvent itself. Mr Assistant Speaker Tisch you can also participate in that if you like— 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch) 
: No. 
MIKE SABIN 
: —as can any member of the public by simply tuning into Labour’s website and giving a pound of your flesh and giving your views. What is the Labour Party’s plan? Well nothing much has changed in “Labour Land”. Nothing much has changed at all because Labour’s plan is about milking businesses dry. Its plan is about a capital gains tax. Its plan is about increasing the minimum wage. Its plan is about abandoning the 90-day probation period for employers. Its plan is about returning to the 1970s industrial relations laws. Its plan is about accelerating farmers’ entry into the emissions trading scheme. Its plan is about doubling employers’ contributions to KiwiSaver. Its plan is about raising interest rates and more borrowing. Its plan is about milking the business community dry. Well the Labour Party may be stuck in something of a time warp—back in the utopian years of the mid-2000s—but the rest of New Zealand has passed Labour by.  
What is this Government doing? We are on track to be back in surplus by 2014-15. We are one of the few developed countries that is not increasing its public debt. We have created over 60000 new jobs in the last 2 years. Mortgage rates are at a 45-year low. We have made tax cuts across the board. There are more doctors nurses and front-line police officers. This economy has grown in nine out of 10 quarters. This economy is looking at 2 percent growth in this calendar year and 3 percent is projected for 2014. That equates to 154000 new jobs. What are we doing to keep this going? We are making sure we are achieving savings to invest in health science education and a more productive economy. We are focusing on the efficiencies that Government programmes need to deliver and reprioritising $4.4 billion as a result of that to deliver better public services for less. We are tackling the welfare trap. We are putting $148 million into supporting young people who are on a collision course with benefits. If they can work we want to make them ready for work and to get them into work. This Budget is about keeping on course and investing in New Zealanders. This Budget has been about investing in our economy without increasing spending. Far from a zero Budget this Budget has been about delivering for New Zealanders and that is what we will continue to do. I commend it to the House.