Pugh Maureen: Debate on Prime Minister’s StatementText is incorporated into the Bound VolumePugh Maureen: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement[Sitting date: 01 March 2016. Volume:711;Page:9233. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]MAUREEN PUGH (National): It is a privilege for me to stand and take this my first call in the House. For the benefit of my colleagues I am based in West Coast - Tasman and I am very proud to stand here today in support of the Prime Minister’s statement—a Prime Minister who has taken it upon himself to recognise the importance of the tourism industry in this country and has placed himself in charge of that particular portfolio. Tourism is directly contributing $10.6 billion to the national economy. We are experiencing a very buoyant tourism sector at the moment and my recent visit to South Westland just last week encourages me that the industry is in good heart and the country is in good heart.The Prime Minister’s statement touched on several items that affect the people who live in the area of West Coast - Tasman in a very positive way. One of those is the changes that are proposed for ACC that will be coming in this year. A total of $450 million will be saved in levies paid by businesses and employees—that is $450 million that stays in the pockets of those people. That is a huge contribution back to this nation.When I was campaigning in 2014 the Government pledged that it would replace one of the bottlenecks in the tourism sector on the roads in between Greymouth and Hokitika and that is the Taramakau road-rail bridge. Although quite quaint in its design where you share the road and the bridge with a train in this day and age it is no longer satisfactory. The Government plans to spend $15 million to $20 million on replacing the Taramakau road-rail bridge. This project is expected to start later this year and delivers on that pre-election promise. I am very proud that we were able to promise that to the electorate and also deliver. This is part of the Accelerated Regional Roading Package.Also part of that programme is the realignment of what is called the Mingha Bluff and for those of you who have ever travelled State Highway 73 from the West Coast to Christchurch you will know that it is one of the remaining narrow sections of road—very windy. If you have ever had the misfortune of being stuck behind a transporter you will know that if two trucks meet on that particular section of road there is simply no room to pass—they literally touch wing mirrors. In this day and age with the tourist volumes that are making their way across that road it is very heartening indeed to see this work progressing at such a great rate and—I have got to say—too without too much disruption to the traffic flows along that road. This is a $22 million project being invested into the area and all going to plan it will be finished at the end of this year. This will significantly improve the safety of locals and visitors visiting and travelling across that road. It is also very important for our freight transport operators.Another item in the Prime Minister’s statement that is of particular interest to me is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. The industries that benefit in the areas of West Coast - Tasman—Hon Nathan Guy: Huge on the Coast. Huge.MAUREEN PUGH: —huge—dairy meat fruit and vegetables forestry and fisheries. By the time the TPP is fully implemented the tariff savings alone will value $259 million. That is $259 million nationally that is staying with the growers to grow their business to employ more workers and to benefit their industries. This is great news for New Zealand.There is an example on the West Coast at the moment of the central-local government partnership. I spoke about this in my maiden speech where working together produces greater results for Kiwis. This Government has pledged $300 million—sorry I wish—$300000 to help with the employment opportunity in Buller and that is a partnership one-to-one with the Buller District Council. That is going to see workers being able to be retained in the town so that other business opportunities can grow and take up their employment at a later date. Thank you.