Coleman Jonathan: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
Coleman Jonathan: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
[Volume:629;Page:1206] 
Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (National—Northcote) 
: 
 That hard-core left-wing unionist rant certainly will not increase the credibility of Dr Cullen’s financial team and policies—he must have been cringing in his seat having to listen to that sort of stuff. It really was like a historical relic something from the north of England maybe. Putting up with that was like being at a unionist meeting back in the 1960s and it certainly was entertaining being on this side of the House. 
But there is no question that this Labour Government has now been shown to be entirely rotten to the core. New Zealanders have heard all the excuses. We have had to put up with “paintergate” we have been expected to swallow a load of rubbish about speeding motorcades in Timaru we have had to shrug our shoulders over “Doone-gate” and now Labour expects New Zealand to believe another tall story over the pledge card. 
It is funny is it not? If Bob Clarkson had been found to have spent $1 more than his $20000 allowed for electoral expenses he would have lost his seat been kicked out faced a massive fine and lost his reputation. Labour uses $450000 of taxpayers’ money to solicit votes and what is the response? Its members say that it is no big deal; they have done it for three elections and well the electoral law is a bit unclear in that area. I can tell members that the law is not unclear and Labour has to front up pay up and take its medicine. 
The flip side of this deviousness on the part of Labour is its opportunism its sheer lack of principle and its grasping for power that goes unabated. What most New Zealanders would have found galling if they had even bothered to listen to that speech from the Prime Minister yesterday was this quote: “There is an evolving New Zealand way of doing things and a stronger New Zealand identity is emerging. It is important to develop that distinctive New Zealand style identity and set of community values. As a Government we will continue to prioritise policies that contribute to a strong sense of national identity.” She talked about Labour’s New Zealand way. In other words the message is clear: “New Zealanders your national identity is going to be cooked up on the ninth floor of the Beehive for you. You are going to be told how you feel as New Zealanders and you are not going to have a choice in the matter.” I can tell members that if Labour thinks it can define national identity in this country it has got another think coming. New Zealanders have always been strong and independent and frankly the people of this country do not need the Government to tell them who they are or how they will behave. 
As Labour continues to engineer our society it is also going to claim credit for every little bit of stuff that it can along the way. Whether it is the Rugby World Cup—never mind the fact that the Prime Minister cannot stand rugby—or it is a blockbuster movie that we have made in this country we will find that this Government claims the credit. The Labour Government is determined to muscle in and get some of the reflected glory. 
But unfortunately for this Government the real job of Government is to grow the economy and to lay out a vision that it can act on. Frankly the members over there on the Treasury benches have not got a clue. Today in question time it was actually embarrassing for the Prime Minister. Dr Brash asked the Prime Minister if she could name one economist—just one—who believes that the policies of this current Government are going to grow productivity in New Zealand to the point where our incomes overtake Australia’s in 10 20 or even 30 years. She could not name a single one. 
Brian Connell 
: Are you sure? 
Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN 
: Well it is just possible that she does not know the name of any economists—after all this Government is not keen on expert advice. Treasury told it in the briefing to the incoming Government that it was not on the right track but the Government did not want to hear about it. What was the advice? It was to get rid of the carbon tax revamp the Resource Management Act and cut personal and company tax. After pressure from the National Party— 
Mark Blumsky 
: The carbon tax has gone? 
Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN 
: Yes the carbon tax did go. The Resource Management Act remains a massive problem. This Government tells us that yes it will be reviewing business tax and it will put things out to public consultation. Well it is pretty simple: business tax needs to be cut right now to ensure productivity. Unfortunately tax cuts to grow the economy are an ideological step too far. The sad fact is that the experts in the field of economics just do not agree with the Prime Minister and the Labour Government. But Treasury agrees with Dr Brash that there are certain steps that we have to take to grow this economy. 
It was pretty interesting yesterday when the Prime Minister spoke. Frankly members over there on the Treasury benches looked pretty bored—not too animated—but boy did they get animated when Dr Brash stood up to speak. Why? Because they know that Dr Brash is on the right track and despite what they say they know that Dr Brash is the one leader in this country who can connect with the New Zealand people. Labour knows that it is getting sadly out of touch and I think it might be time that some of those Labour death row members went out and spoke to people in their electorates. They would be interested in some of the stuff they would hear. 
Actually quite a few of them do not have electorates. It is interesting that if one goes to a few parties around Wellington one can hear candidates further down the Labour list insisting they will be in this House by the end of the year. That must make Labour MPs feel great if they lost their seats and came in on the list. Perhaps like Dr Sutton over there they are in the departure lounge for maybe Niue—if they are lucky. 
It is a sad fact that this Government has got so out of touch. We heard a bit before about Working for Families. I can tell members that New Zealanders do not want middle-class welfare. They do not want to be made into beneficiaries. They want the opportunity to stand on their own two feet. Unfortunately Labour just does not get that. 
Chris Auchinvole 
: They don’t like that. 
Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN 
: They do not like it at all. I can also tell members that on the day that the people in South Auckland switch on to the fact that Labour does not actually represent their interests—that Labour is totally out of line with their values—the Labour Party will be gone and it will be gone for a very very long time. The Labour Party that one sees now does not represent its traditional constituency. For too long Labour Party supporters have shown faith in that party. They have had to suffer all sorts of changes in philosophy and direction. Helen Clark could tell loyal Labour Party supporters that the Government was starting labour camps and they would think it was great because it would mean that there were more jobs. I do not know about some of those supporters. 
This pledge card debacle is just one more nail for this Government. Labour has stitched together a ragged coalition of the discredited. It talks about our talking the country down. I can say this: give Labour another term and it will have taken the country down. There is no better way to talk the country down than by sending Winston Peters overseas to represent us. The Prime Minister cannot find an economist to back her up because there is no economic plan and there is no vision to back up. We all know in this Chamber that this is the last Labour Government we will see for a very very long time and that will be the saving of this country.