Dean Jacqui: General Debate 
Dean Jacqui: General Debate 
[Volume:674;Page:20047] 
JACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki) 
: 
 Despite a worldwide global recession and two devastating earthquakes in Canterbury the New Zealand economy is now much stronger than it was 3 years ago. It is far better placed to meet future challenges thanks to the National Government. When National took office 3 years ago the country had already been in recession for 9 months and the economy had flattened out completely. Government spending was out of control Treasury’s books showed continuing Budget deficits into the future and Government debt had spiralled out to 60 percent of GDP plus some. Why? Labour’s unsustainable increases in Government spending— 
Brendon Burns 
: Brought on by an international recession. 
JACQUI DEAN 
: —they do not like to hear it—which had risen by an unbelievable 50 percent in the last 5 years of a spend-and-hope Labour Government. 
The National Government has improved our tax system to one that is integrated and balanced. For 3 years the National-led Government has provided the responsible economic management so badly needed after the 9 long years of Labour. It is a tax system that encourages work and savings. It is a tax system where 73 percent of earners are paying income tax at no more than 17.5 percent. Our across-the-board tax cuts the biggest reform of the tax system in 25 years have put more money in the pockets of hard-working Kiwis and more money into households at a time when it is really needed. 
I applaud the Government’s broadband initiative. It is already under way with $1.5 billion being spent on the broadband initiative over the next 5 years. There is also a rural broadband roll-out to rural schools rural communities and rural households. 
The Prime Minister continues to work to open up overseas markets for our New Zealand exporters and New Zealand businesses. John Key’s trip to India was an outstanding success with the export sector and education providers—to name just two sectors—set to capitalise on the benefits in years to come. 
The Government continues its focus on maximising our economic opportunities with a strong focus on lifting educational achievement in schools reforming the Resource Management Act and shifting Government spending to providing services on the front line where people benefit. There are 400 extra elective operations in hospitals per week. There is $1.4 billion for early childhood education this year which is the most ever. There are 300 extra police on our streets and there will be another 300 by the end of the year. 
I am proud to be part of a National Government that values rural New Zealand. The impact of the investment in rural growth research and innovation is considerable with more than $477 million in the Primary Growth Partnership $45 million in the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases $50 million over 4 years in the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre $321 million over 4 years in research and science and $35 million over 5 years to get irrigation projects under way with a further proposed $400 million for equity investment in regional irrigation projects. 
An increase in irrigation impacts the economy in three ways: an increase in off-farm capital infrastructure costs an increase in on-farm capital costs and an increase in agricultural production. But beyond the economic benefits a number of social improvements occur in communities due to irrigation development and its associated land use changes. I will outline just a few of those. There is population growth there is an increase in the proportion of young and working-age people in our rural communities and there is an increase in the proportion of residents with a tertiary qualification in our rural communities. I commend this Government for its investments particularly in irrigation. Thank you.