Willis NicolaGENERAL DEBATENICOLA WILLIS (Deputy Leader—National): I move That the House take note of miscellaneous business. New Zealand is in a cost of living crisis with middle Kiwis squeezed to bursting so there are big stakes for tomorrow's Budget. You can see it on the faces of the backbench. They know—they know. They're asking themselves: has Grant Robertson listened? Does he know how tough it is for New Zealanders out there? So I'm going to make a prediction—I'm going to make a prediction. In tomorrow's Budget there will be some big promises but what will New Zealanders be looking for? They know that this Government gets an A for announcements but a D for delivery. And you can see it—you can see it on every single member of the Opposition benches. You've got Grant Robertson there. Did you hear him in question time today? He said New Zealand has the best economic approach. Never mind that he's delivered record high inflation more deficits more debt rising interest rates and lagging wage growth. New Zealand is going backwards but he expects them to Believe me this time. I promise it's going to get better." And you know what? Do you know what his answer is? His answer to our economic challenge is more spending. He can't manage the economy but he's not worried because when the cash runs out he and his handmaiden David Parker will tax Kiwis more to pay for it. The "see no evil hear no evil" approach to economic management. I'll tell you who else will be making big promises tomorrow and that's Andrew Little. Now never mind that we need to believe that they're doing a great job in health. Never mind that the first thing they did was get rid of the health targets to measure the performance of the health system. So they've papered over those cracks. They've slipped back across every measure. Never mind that this is the Minister put in charge of the big spend-up in mental health the $1.9 billion but he didn't manage to offer one single additional specialist health service. But don't worry New Zealanders are expected to trust him with a massive restructure of the bureaucracy. The health workers may be striking the hospitals may be crumbling but don't worry. We're meant to believe that this is the time for Andrew Little to rearrange the back office. Now if he wants some tips on transformational change he needs to talk to Megan Woods because she had the task of solving the housing crisis. Well how's that going? A hundred thousand KiwiBuild houses? Not quite; 1300 delivered. But don't worry. They've hired more housing bureaucrats than they've delivered KiwiBuild houses. Mind you there has been some transformation. The State house waiting list has been transformed from 6000 New Zealanders without a home to 26000 New Zealanders without a place to live. Rents are up $150 a week. Housing's the most affordable it's been! It's been a transformation. Then let's take a look at immigration. Well Kris Faafoi promised this week that he was going to sort out the skill gaps. He stood up and he said "We've got it all sorted. Here's our new plan." And what he wanted New Zealand to forget was that in the exact same location in January he promised 20000 more critical workers would be gracing our shores. So I asked Erica Stanford "How many did he deliver of that 20000? Is he halfway there yet? Has he got to 6000 yet?" "No." she said. "Has he got to 600?" "No." she said. Actually he's delivered six. So at this rate Kris Faafoi will be calling every ex-pat friend and family member and begging them to come home. Meanwhile you've got Michael Wood who likes to claim it's an achievement that he keeps talking about light rail without a single metre of it laid. You've got Chris Hipkins in education who promised to revolutionise education. Well how's that going? As far as I can see the biggest revolution is the kids who are leaving school in droves; 20000 more chronic truants under Labour. That's the revolution happening in education. But I just want to spare a moment for credit where it's due: Poto Williams because actually she has got a huge fan club. The Mongrel Mob Black Power—they love her. And in a country where lots of things are going backwards she's got things going forwards fast: ram raiders hitting dairies in Auckland every night. But not to make light New Zealand is in a cost of living crisis. New Zealanders are facing extremely challenging times. It is a time for discipline and care and the Government should remember this: they won't be judged by the announcements they make tomorrow; they will be judged by what they deliver. The report card is already in: D for delivery."