Tolley Anne: General Debate 
Tolley Anne: General Debate 
[Volume:676;Page:21508] 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Education) 
: 
 The leadership contest continues. I am looking forward to it. 
There is no doubt that this country’s economy is in far better shape today than it was when we took office in 2008. What did we inherit? We inherited inflation running at 5.1 percent. We inherited mortgage interest rates of 10.5 percent food prices that had risen by 11 percent—11 percent—an economy going backwards and Treasury forecasts of deficits as far as the eye could see. I am proud to have been part of a Government and to have worked with a Prime Minister and a Minister of Finance that have turned that round. We have turned that round despite the constant and continual financial chaos and uncertainty in Europe and the United States. We have done this despite three major earthquakes in Christchurch our second largest city; despite the failure of innumerable finance companies with the savings and investments of thousands of New Zealanders going with them; and despite being left with enormous gaping holes in the Budgets from the previous Government. There was half a billion dollars of unfunded promises in tertiary education alone. That Government went out and promised everything and then did not put any money into the Budget. Despite all of that this John Key - led Government has turned that round and I am proud to be part of a Government that has done that. 
This Government as I said earlier in question time has focused particularly on young people because as a result of the difficult economic times too many of them have found that either they have been put out of work or there has not been work for them. We heard from the Minister for Social Development and Employment that at the beginning of last year there were 23500 young people on the unemployment benefit but now that figure is down to just under 16000. Job Ops has been a huge success for young people—89 percent of those who have completed that scheme have gone off the benefit—and 2800 young people have been prepared and are ready for work through the Limited Service Volunteers. That is fantastic work this Government has done focused on young people. I am proud to be part of a Government that has put money into making educational opportunities available for young New Zealanders. There are 10000 places under the wider Youth Guarantee next year for young people. 
I just remind this House that the Labour Government said back in 2003 that its Budget contained a comprehensive package of initiatives to ensure that all 15 to 19-year-olds were involved in education training work or other options by 2007. Who said that? The Prime Minister Helen Clark said that. Actually it was a bit like housing in Tamaki. It promised it again in 2004 in 2005 in 2006 and in 2007 but we have delivered it actually. This Government in tough economic times is starting to deliver that for young people—10000 places next year and 12500 places by 2014. We have already opened eight trades academies and promised that possibly another 13 more will open at the beginning of next year. We have increased— 
David Shearer 
: Eight in 3 years? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: Over 3 years I say yes. Over 3 years we did it. Labour members had 9 years and what did they do? They sat back and watched while young people continued to leave school unable to read write and do maths. What is the common denominator for those young people who are out there on the dole? They cannot read. They cannot write. I was talking to an employer who had to put off a guy from his apprenticeship because they could not trust him to take a message on the telephone because he could not write. That kid went through schooling under a Labour Government. Labour members continue to argue against setting national standards in primary and intermediate schools that set benchmarks so that we can monitor whether our young people are learning to read write and do maths. I know that Trevor Mallard wanted to do it and the unions stopped him. Well they are not stopping this Government.