Quinn Paul: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
Quinn Paul: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
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PAUL QUINN (National) 
: 
 Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker Roy. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: There’s a genius! 
PAUL QUINN 
: I will be a genius at the end of this speech as the previous one was made by Clayton Cosgrove. 
It gives me great pleasure to stand and support the Prime Minister following his speech to the House this afternoon in which he laid out how this Government intends building a strong economy based on real enduring growth. One thing Labour has failed to understand throughout the previous 9 years of its administration—appalling as it was—as demonstrated by the throwaway lines that its members have shared with the public since the start of this year and the shopping lists and lolly scrambles it has created is that it has learnt nothing. Labour has learnt nothing from the mismanagement of its previous period in Government which left this country with a decade of deficits. 
Let us briefly by way of example look at the wool Labour pulled over our eyes in just its last year in office. When the then Labour Government presented the Budget and economic statement in 2008 it forecast a surplus of $1.3 billion. Even in the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update it published it basically tried to hoodwink the public and say that there would be a balanced outcome in 2008. Of course the people saw through this and elected John Key as their Prime Minister and National as the Government. We received notification from Treasury in the December update that there was a deficit. That deficit had been hidden from the people by the Labour administration which now wallows in the benches of the Opposition. As we have seen we have been left with a decade of deficits. 
How could that be? It basically came about because the focus of members opposite during their time in Government was to dish out lollies. Productivity decreased every year during the time they were in Government. There was a current account deficit throughout that whole period. If this country is to survive and have enduring growth it needs productive investment. The previous administration did absolutely nothing to create that opportunity. 
When Labour was finally kicked out by the people of New Zealand household debt had risen from $5 billion when it came into power to $19 billion. The interest charges that the average householder was paying on that debt had risen to 14 percent of their disposal income. That amount was going to service the debt that those vagabonds on the other side of the House had created by showering lollies on their so-called supporters thereby creating a mountain of debt. 
That is why we find ourselves in the situation today where this Government is not scared to address the debt issues. That intention was announced by the Prime Minister John Key in his state of the nation speech and again today in the Prime Minister’s statement. His focus is on restoring equilibrium just as the householders of New Zealand have come to realise and understand that they have to reduce debt and create savings not create a whole lot of debt. Members opposite have not understood that fact and in their lust for power they have decided that they will send the country into even more debt with programmes that so far cost over $5 billion. Labour has already announced programmes that will require $5 billion additional debt. Does Shane Jones really think that the people of New Zealand will be as gullible as that? Of course he does not. He should jump now. 
If we are to have enduring growth in this country we will have to base it on productivity gains investment and getting businesses to invest. It is the businesses in New Zealand that create the job opportunities. The Government’s job is to create a framework to enable the economy to grow. It is not the Government’s job to be the economy to employ all the public servants and to dish out handouts to all and sundry so they can go and spend lots of money. The Government’s job— 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: Whose job is it to hire the public servants if not the Government’s? 
PAUL QUINN 
: Oh Labour’s new spokesman on education who is wearing lovely professorial glasses interjects. I look forward to his contribution. 
I turn briefly to the contribution made by the co-leader of the Green Party Metiria Turei this afternoon. Although I have no doubt that she was sincere in her contribution I was not moved by it. The simple reality of life is that many people on both sides of this House no doubt have a similar story to tell. I do not agree with her solution which like Labour’s solution is to throw the lollies out there. Her solution was to increase the minimum wage to $15 which would create all sorts of jobs but that solution just does not work. The only way to deal with the issue that Metiria Turei describes is to create a sustained economy. I was not moved by her contribution. 
A classic example is our own Prime Minister. He has a similar story to tell but he chose a different path. Those on this side of the House believe that that path is the way to prosperity and the way to getting this country back on the road to recovery. 
The National Government is about investing and prospering—investing and producing. The Labour Opposition is about spending and consuming. With those few words it gives me great pleasure once again to endorse the outstanding leadership of the Prime Minister of this country. Thank you.