Robson Matt: Supplementary Estimates — Imprest Supply Debate 
Robson Matt: Supplementary Estimates — Imprest Supply Debate 
[Volume:618;Page:13813] 
Hon MATT ROBSON (Deputy Leader—Progressive) 
: 
 On behalf of the Progressive Party I support this bill of the Labour-Progressive Government. The Appropriation (2003/04 Supplementary Estimates) Bill is required to ensure the revenues are raised to pay for the ongoing smooth running of Government administration through to the end of the financial year on 30 June and through the first 2 months of the 2004-05 year. This debate once again highlights the reality that this minority Labour-Progressive coalition Government is able to govern for the good of our country thanks to the constructive relationship we have with and the crucial support that we receive from the United Future Party’s eight votes of support. The money raised previously from taxpayers in this bill and to be included in the money-raising legislation related to Budget 2004 for the new financial year starting on 1 July can proceed to be used only because there is rationality no surprises and honest cooperation between three parties in this Parliament. 
For 2 years now the public’s vital interest and concern that there be a stable and forward-looking Government has been possible only because Labour Progressive and United Future are making our proportional representation electoral system work for the electors of New Zealand. Based on our policies we are getting good things done for people because we are working constructively together. Labour and Progressive could not do it alone because we do not have the numbers. Nor could Progressive and United Future do it alone; we have not got the numbers. Labour and United Future could not do it alone. They do not have the numbers and have not had the numbers since this Parliament was elected in July 2002. But by working together we are able to advance policies that strengthen our economy build safer communities and benefit our families. That is why this bill is so important. Money bills are about as serious and significant as any bill that we can get in a Parliament. Civil wars have been fought over money and Parliament. 
Tomorrow we will see some more practical examples of the benefits of the cooperation in this Parliament that allows for money to be raised in order to be invested in securing a better future for all. Tomorrow we will have an announcement on the appointments to the new Families Commission. The three Government-related parties in Parliament are responsible for establishing the Families Commission an agency that from 1 July will be working to advocate for the interests of families. 
Peter Brown 
: It’s the last thing we want. 
Hon MATT ROBSON 
: New Zealand First can wait; I have a little bit in this speech for its members. The commission will encourage intelligent and rational discussion on issues affecting families and it will commission research into family issues and make independent comment on policies that affect families. Together with representatives of the other two parties in Government I met with the commissioners for the Families Commission this evening. They are people who will produce intelligent research and advocate for policies that will help families in New Zealand. The commission will be to the benefit of every single family; I am certain of that. In particular the commissioners will be able to address how underlying issues of poverty and low income affect families to their detriment. 
In a confidence vote last week the Labour-Progressive Government won an absolute majority of support. Whereas an absolute majority of 61 has confidence in this Government just half that number—or 35 members—expressed confidence in the only other alternative available to govern the country which would be a National minority Government led by Don Brash. National has already shown us that if it were in Government it would return us to the nuclear umbrella would sell Kiwibank would repeal 4 weeks’ leave and would put taxation cuts for the richest New Zealanders on its agenda. The reason the Labour-Progressive coalition Government has double the support in this Parliament of that of the right-wing alternative is highlighted by Budget 2004 and by money-related legislation like the legislation before us now. The key to understanding the Labour-Progressive programme is to appreciate that its value lies in the work it permits in propelling the base of the New Zealand economy on to a higher level. There are many many examples of that in New Zealand. 
Perhaps the key point to make is that every region has now had growth for a considerable number of years. We are taking a comprehensive approach to economic development. We are focused on strengthening and deepening New Zealand’s connections with the world economy. In the Budget we have allocated $500 million over 4 years to help unleash New Zealanders’ creativity and talent. That broad approach is not limited to the economic development portfolio but is across the board: in commerce small business finance education science and technology immigration and a number of related portfolios. This Budget includes nearly $54 million for the war on drug peddlers and on initiatives to try to help their victims. The Budget includes $5.5 million for suicide prevention initiatives because we must do more to fend off that blight on our communities. I am sure no member in this Parliament will want to see the New Zealand suicide level particularly for youth stay at the level it has been at for too many years. The Government is also increasing the overall level of investment in infrastructure both by direct Government expenditure and by encouraging others to invest in our nation’s future economic and social development. 
We do not want a National-led Government because we know of National’s dire record. In the years from 1994 to 2000 when many New Zealanders fled the country the net purchases of physical assets by the then National-led Government added up to a mere $800 million a year. For the period 2001-08 in contrast the Labour-Progressive Government has committed to increase that investment in the future to an average of $1.1 billion a year. For over two decades we have had under-investment in New Zealand’s infrastructure to the detriment of the welfare of all our people. Overcoming that lag has been an enormous task but already this Government has made an enormous dent in those sorry figures. The financial transparency of the Government’s books has improved dramatically since the Labour-Progressive coalition Government first came into office in 1999. We now have a system of line-by-line consolidation in the Government’s accounts that allows all New Zealanders to understand much better the level of investment their elected Government is making as well as the actual capital investment in the future being made by Government-owned commercial enterprises or State-owned enterprises—and I would like to put Kiwibank right up there with the best of them. This Government has been prepared to shoulder its responsibilities to the regions of New Zealand when the market failed to deliver. We have invested in the rail network in Auckland’s transport needs and in the national airline. 
Cooperation and building for social and economic progress are the key themes for the Labour-Progressive Government. That is the antithesis of the approach taken by parties like National and New Zealand First which foster divisions. National does that by using Maori as the scapegoat in its attempt to draw many New Zealanders into a campaign against Maori. New Zealand First makes continuing attacks on migrant communities in New Zealand and attempts to scapegoat those communities for all the social ills of New Zealand. Labour and Progressive in contrast are drawing our various communities together and will continue to do that for the sake of the health of New Zealand.