Calder Cam: Supplementary Estimates — Imprest Supply Debate 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Calder Cam: Supplementary Estimates — Imprest Supply Debate 
[Sitting date: 26 June 2012. Volume:681;Page:3377. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Dr CAM CALDER (National) 
: 
 It is a huge pleasure to take one of these 5-minute calls. I am just wondering whether the previous speaker the Hon Clayton Cosgrove was displaying wilful ignorance or a real lack of understanding or maybe he has had his eyes closed over the last 3½ years. He talked about export markets. We have just had yet another example of the excellent work being done by our Minister of Trade the Hon Tim Groser. The work he has done has been going on for a long long period of time but the most recent jewel in the crown was the expression of interest from Mexico and Canada in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership which is going to add to our trading opportunities. 
We have set ourselves a number of targets and we are very happy to do that. This is a Government that is prepared to set targets and to be held to account. One of the targets we have set is to generate 40 percent of our GDP through trade. This work through the good efforts of our excellent trade team led by Tim Groser will only help that. The Trans-Pacific Partnership recognises that the Pacific Basin is an area of prosperity. New Zealand’s lead role in that is well signalled and well recognised by such countries as the United States which has put up its hand to be involved. Japan is signalling its intention. We know that Viet Nam Malaysia Australia and all these countries have joined with the initial group which was Singapore and New Zealand to create a very powerful trading bloc in the world for the future. 
It appears that there is little or no awareness of the global financial crisis on the other side of the House. There is little or no awareness of the turmoil that exists in Europe at the moment where just a few days ago there was a second attempt by the Greeks to form a Government. They have done so and by the skin of their teeth they have decided to listen to the EU the IMF and the European Central Bank and to adopt the austerity measures demanded by those who are helping them weather the huge recession and financial crisis they are facing. The European financial turmoil remains a significant threat for New Zealand. However despite this the good work of this Government over the last 3 years has cushioned New Zealanders from the worst effects of that ongoing crisis despite the fact that we heard in the House just a very short while ago that the previous Leader of the Opposition does not think it is actually still going. In fact it still is. I believe that we on this side of the House recognise that it is even though others feel that maybe it is something that New Zealand does not really have to have much awareness of. 
We have had excellent results in our GDP figures. We are making progress. It may be lumpy it may be bumpy and it may be a little bit grumpy but we are making progress. Primary production is up and manufacturing is stronger. In “La-La Labour Land” these things seem to be unrecognised. In “La-La Labour Land” they seem to have no appreciation of the huge progress that has been made over the last 3½ years which will be continued by this Budget. 
One of the things we have made progress on despite the comments made by a previous speaker on the other side of the House is the significant improvements in our country’s safety. Security is the first duty owed to a community by the State and all over New Zealand communities are feeling safer. In my own area of interest where I have my office in Manurewa the people there in Manurewa are telling me they are feeling safe—they are feeling safe. [ 
Interruption 
] They are telling me they are feeling safe. The reason they are feeling safe is that this Government has invested in them. 
We are doing a lot of work to protect our most vulnerable and this will continue with this new Budget. The work done by the Hon Paula Bennett on the white paper addressing how we can protect vulnerable children is addressing an issue that is a stain on our country’s escutcheon. It is appalling that so many of our young people have been assaulted battered and subjected to physical violence over a period of time and we are putting up our hand to do something about it. And it is not easy; there are no simple easy answers. But this Budget is determined to set targets in the Public Service. One of those targets is to improve the results for our vulnerable children in avoiding the appalling statistics continuing to increase as they have year after year. This is a fine Budget. This is an excellent Budget.