Moroney Sue: General Debate 
Moroney Sue: General Debate 
[Volume:643;Page:13099] 
SUE MORONEY (Labour) 
: 
 What a negative lot the National members are! They are a very lacklustre Opposition. I am very pleased to be part of a positive Labour Government that is doing so much and doing very real things that make a very real difference in people’s lives in this country. Meanwhile all the Opposition can do is to bleat and bleat and then copy Labour’s policies. What a weak-kneed Opposition it is indeed! I want to draw the attention of those listening to this debate to some of the differences between the Labour Government—which is going ahead and has delivered so much to this country already and has such a bright future ahead of it—and the performance of the Opposition. 
Let us take for example the Labour team members and compare them with their opposite numbers on the Opposition benches. What would it be like to have Tony Ryall as the Minister of Health for example? I think the people who care about our health system and who depend upon it to be an accessible system where they can get their health care might be worried at Tony Ryall’s view and—yes—John Key’s view that doctors should be able to charge what they like for their fees basically giving doctors a blank cheque to increase fees as much as they like. That is not on—not under Labour. We have been very clear that we have halved doctors’ fees and we will continue to work in that direction. We will be clear with doctors that we expect those fees to stay reasonable. So would people in this country rather have David Cunliffe with his bright new ideas for the future or the ever-bitter Tony Ryall as the Minister of Health? I think there is no competition. 
I would also argue that when it comes to looking after this country’s social development New Zealanders would rather have Ruth Dyson as Minister over the likes of Judith Collins. We have just heard Judith Collins speaking with all her bitterness and rage and she was not able to say anything positive. She could only grasp at straws about the Hunn report which was published today. 
Let us look at a vital issue of importance to this country—transport. I would put my money on having Annette King as a go-ahead Minister of Transport over Maurice Williamson any day of the week. When he was in charge of that portfolio he could not build a single road in this country. So there is no competition there. If it is a choice between Annette King and Maurice Williamson for better transport in this country I know where my money sits. 
Let us look at climate change. That will be the issue of the future. Would we put the future of this country and the issue of climate change into the hands of David Parker under Labour? He is a very serious and committed Minister. He knows his business and he goes about doing that not with fanfare but seriously and calmly as he puts out the right policies in the direction. Or would we rather have the frenetic Nick Smith as the Minister dealing with climate change issues? I think most New Zealanders would put their hands up and say: “David Parker any day of the week on that one thank you.” Let us look at the area of local government. I would back my colleague Nanaia Mahuta any day of the week over John Carter as the Minister of Local Government. Nanaia Mahuta is one of those people who understand consultation very thoroughly. I am not sure the same can be said for John Carter. 
I would also pick Nanaia Mahuta as the Minister of Youth Affairs over Nicky Wagner any day of the week. Has anyone heard of Nicky Wagner? 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: Who? 
SUE MORONEY 
: She is the Opposition spokesperson on youth affairs. I am not sure I have heard her say anything yet. I certainly have not heard her say anything positive about the youth of our country. 
It is the Labour team that has the ideas for the future of this country. I am very pleased that in the recent Cabinet reshuffle I was given the opportunity of becoming the junior whip for our party. In that role I am able to see a very committed team in absolute unity with collectivity of purpose. It is fabulous to be involved in such a role with a fabulous group of people who absolutely understand that unity not division is critical to the future success of this country. It is no wonder that during the nearly 8 years of this Labour-led Government New Zealand has been able to turn the corner. It has been able to turn the corner because the failed market-led policies of the 1990s have been ditched at least by this side of the House. But it is clearly evident they have not been ditched by National.