Little Andrew: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLittle Andrew: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 18 August 2015. Volume:707;Page:5838. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]1.ANDREW LITTLE (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement that “New Zealand has a diversified economy” given that 82 percent of the growth in exports since the beginning of 2009 has been in dairy and wood while manufactured exports have fallen by $1.3 billion?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister): Official data from Statistics New Zealand shows that between January 2009 and June 2015 New Zealand exports grew by just over $1 billion but I have news for the member: I am advised that it is not the case that 82 percent of this growth in exports has been in dairy and wood. In fact the real number is 20 percent and I am advised that it is not the case that manufactured exports have fallen by $1.3 billion. In fact they have increased by $138 million or 13 percent over the period that the member refers to. So I would say yes New Zealand has a diversified economy and I would also say that like always we should never believe the dodgy statistics that Labour brings to the House.Andrew Little: Why has he failed to invest in diversifying the country over the past 7 years by backing research and development investing in rural transport and improving training for our young people; and why did he increase irrigation subsidies that encouraged more milk production instead?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Despite what the member says in fact every single year that this Government has been in office it has invested more money in science and innovation. We have a highly diversified economy and that is one of the reasons why it is doing well.Andrew Little: Given the 500 jobs lost at Fonterra the 1100 lost so far at Solid Energy and the now 7.5 percent unemployment rate in Taranaki—the highest in 21 years—was it a good idea for his Government to concentrate regional economies on just a few basic commodities?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Well I reject the proposition that we have done that. In fact what we have done is enable the regions to diversify and they have done that. The member might want to go around and ask the tourism operators around the region whether they are having a record time. The member might want to go out and look at information and communications technology businesses around being supported by the roll-out of ultra-fast broadband and the Rural Broadband Initiative. The member might want to look at the science and innovation that has been rolled out around the country. The food industry—there are many parts of the economy that are diversified. What is not diversified is the Labour Party which has a one-track mind and thinks that everything is either dairy or housing. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! The level of interjection is now unacceptable.Andrew Little: With unemployment rising for the last three quarters and 50000 more people unemployed today than when the member became Prime Minister when will unemployment return to pre - John Key levels and where will the jobs come from?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I do not have the numbers with me but I know that over the past couple of years the number of jobs created in New Zealand is well in excess of 100000. There are more people in work under this Government than there has ever been in the history of New Zealand.Andrew Little: Given that dairy prices are so low that manufactured exports are well below the level that he inherited that the Canterbury rebuild has peaked and that retail sales have stalled how can he seriously regret the view of the leading bank economist that there will be no job growth in the second half of this year and that growth will slow below 2 percent?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: If the member came to the House with the correct facts we could take him seriously. The BNZ-BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index has increased 33 months in a row—[Interruption] It is 34 months; I stand corrected—34 months in a row. I know that the member wants to talk the New Zealand economy down because he somehow thinks the doom and gloom is going to help his failing prospects but I can assure the member that it will not—it will not—and that is why in the “Mood of the Boardroom” they did not rate him very highly.Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! Now the noise is coming from my left rather than the right but it still must settle.Andrew Little: When he says that beef fruit wine and tourism are growing why does he not be straight with New Zealand and admit that growth across all those sectors is just $2.3 billion while the collapse in dairy will cost the economy $8 billion? Tell the truth—he has put all the eggs in one basket and I am not talking about the poultry industry either.Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Again the member comes up with dodgy statistics one more time and that is why it is very hard to take him seriously. But yes actually lots of other parts of the economy are doing very well. The member gets up on his feet and says that because international dairy prices are down—something that the Government cannot control—it is our fault but because international beef prices are up that is nothing to do with us. Well he cannot have it both ways. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! Would the two front-benchers—at the second request—please settle.