Fairbrother Russell: Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Bill Taxation (Working for Families) Bill — Third Readings 
Fairbrother Russell: Social Security (Working for Families) Amendment Bill Taxation (Working for Families) Bill — Third Readings 
[Volume:617;Page:13533] 
RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER (Labour—Napier) 
: 
 I want to make one point. I take my point from the “ACT - National Party” manifesto that august magazine that did a Budget special that came out this morning—the  
National Business Review 
. I am drawn to the headline in that august magazine which reads: “Incentive to work package is a welcome signal” when speaking about the Budget and particularly the Future Directions (Working for Families) Bill. It states further that this Budget: “makes a potentially valuable contribution to economic growth.” It then states: “One of the items on the Budget wish list of many businesspeople is encouragement for people to work to fill the skilled labour shortage that has emerged as a significant growth constraint.” The package is a welcome signal. The Government is saying to the country that it values people who want to work and is prepared to provide rewards and incentives to back that up. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: It’s a handout. 
RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER 
: No this is not a handout. I am reading from a magazine that points out the unstable party of ACT whose members cannot decide among themselves a potential leader and have to use the people’s money to stump the country for airfares and run a primary election to try to sort out their own stability so that eight members can elect one member. They are using the money and the resources of this country but they are absent during this great Budget debate. Their contribution is zilch. The papers say that the main contenders Hide and Franks adore the leader of the National Party. So we see this slipping through the cloth in the shallow arguments but in the confluence of their approach to this legislation a party is emerging—the “ACT and Hide National Party”. 
I endorse this bill. The  
National Business Review 
 that august organ of the ACT party the august organ of the National Party recognises that the package of this bill provides an incentive to work. What the previous speaker seems to have ignored and the previous speaker for ACT seems to have ignored is that this puts money where it is needed. The effect of this on business is very very strong. This is money that goes into the pockets of people who need to spend it and will spend it in the businesses that the ACT party and the National Party claim to represent. If they had their way of tax cuts there would not be sufficient money to boost the business economy and the very people whom they claim to represent would be suffering. 
This is great legislation. Not only does it recognise the importance of families and not only does it support them in the vital parenting role but it also reinforces the approach that families are backed by strong services for the times they need a little extra help. Tax cuts would not give that assistance but discreet services discreet assistance as is provided in this legislation is the most plain and elegant way to provide that. That is an issue not spoken about by some speakers and an issue that was not even considered in their speeches. 
I am proud to represent a party that is stable and can stick with its leader as opposed to the two parties opposite which have leadership problems—there is a temporary leader for National and an indecisive leadership position for ACT. We have a party that says we have our act together and we know how to help people who need help and they are the parents with young children. They are the parents who work hard and want to get into work and provide this economy with a cash flow. That is the reason that I think this is a great day for New Zealand. This was a great Budget for the country. For years after people will speak of the 2004 Budget as a watershed in the country’s affairs. They will speak of this as legislation that set this country on the future path of great economic security social contentment and advancement for all the hard-working decent people. I thoroughly endorse this legislation and every considerate well-intentioned thoughtful member of this House will do likewise.