Finlayson Christopher: Budget Debate 
Finlayson Christopher: Budget Debate 
[Volume:673;Page:19153] 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Attorney-General) 
: 
 It has been very disappointing to listen to members opposite recite what can only be described as a farrago of incoherent bullet points prepared for them by the Labour research unit. I have listened to Clare Curran Carol Beaumont Brendon Burns and Darien Fenton. They have all said the same thing all with the same lack of enthusiasm and all with the same lack of conviction. It is a pity that the Labour Party research unit minions have to waste their time writing drivel for Labour backbenchers. They would be much more constructively engaged explaining to reporters Mr Goff’s research and development policy because he certainly cannot explain it. 
This Budget continues to chart the course from recession to recovery. It is based on a number of key principles and it is worthwhile reviewing these principles. The first one is faster economic growth. Forecast economic growth is 4 percent in 2012 with 170000 new jobs being created by 2015. The second principle is higher national savings. Changes to KiwiSaver will increase private savings reduce Government borrowing for subsidies and lift national savings. The next principle is getting back to surplus. We will return the Budget to surplus in 2014-15—a year sooner than was forecast in December. The next principle is repaying debt. Average net weekly borrowing will fall by over two-thirds to about $100 million in 2011-12 and the Government will start repaying debt in 2014-15. 
Another principle is rebuilding Christchurch. We have created the $5.5 billion Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Fund for infrastructure in schools temporary housing trades training welfare business support and central business district demolition costs—a huge job. All I can say is thank goodness that at this critical time Canterbury has Gerry Brownlee at the helm. 
Strengthening education is another principle. Schools and early childhood education will receive an extra $1.4 billion in operating and capital funding out to 2014-15 with total education spending rising to a record—listen to it—$12.2 billion in 2011-12. Constantly vilified by the New Zealand Educational Institute branch of the Labour Party Anne Tolley is the best Minister of Education in living memory. 
Then we have the principle of strengthening health. This Budget delivers an extra $2.2 billion to public health services over the next 4 years— 
Chris Auchinvole 
: How much? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: —including an additional—for Mr Auchinvole’s sake—$585 million in initiatives in 2011-12. Most people run a mile from the health portfolio—Mr Grant Robertson should surely be running from the shadow health portfolio because he makes one wistful for Ruth—but Tony Ryall revels in the job. He is admired by everyone. 
Focusing on front-line services is another principle of the Budget. We are reining in our unaffordable expenditure while protecting our most vulnerable citizens and keeping a keen focus on improving the performance of front-line services particularly in the justice area. In this regard I express my admiration for my colleague Simon Power who has done 9 years’ work in 3 years. He is a great Minister and a fine parliamentarian whose contribution to public life will never be forgotten. The final principle is building infrastructure. The Government infrastructure programme receives $1.6 billion more for ultra-fast broadband fibre connections and KiwiRail thanks to my very clever and capable colleague Steven Joyce. 
We are safe managers of the economy in tough times. Tough times mean tough choices and this Government has not been afraid to make them. Labour has a problem; in fact it has a few problems. It criticises every Government move to reduce spending but refuses to say that it will reverse those reductions. We all remember the “Axe the Tax” bus and the crowds of two or three people who would turn up to greet it. Now it turns out that those members would not axe the tax after all though they apparently want to spend about $250 million— 
Chris Auchinvole 
: How much? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: —$250 million I say to Mr Auchinvole—taking GST off food to save the average New Zealand family $1.50 a week. Middle New Zealand will be pleased to know that under Labour it would no longer have to pay GST on Alban truffles currently selling at $6000 a kilogram; Californian pomegranates currently selling at $30 a kilogram; or Philippine figs currently selling at $2 each. Judging from what I heard about Mr Auchinvole yesterday perhaps he had too many of those. So much for Michael Joseph Savage’s party of the people! 
Not content with this Labour is also promising billions more for expensive programmes like Annette King’s “Ministries for Everything”. Apparently Labour’s policy to fix New Zealand is to create new Ministers new ministries and new departments for everything. It is called the “Hail Mary” pass approach: throw something up in the air and hope that somebody will catch it. New Zealanders deserve better than that. They do not want more waffle and they do not want more ministries; they want their Government to focus on what works. That is what this Government is doing. 
What is the Hon Phil Goff doing? Well he used to be the figurehead. He used to be the social democratic store mannequin on which Labour projected its latest ideas of what middle New Zealand voters might like. The Leader of the Opposition did more costume changes during his first year in Opposition than Lady Gaga. Mr Goff was photographed everywhere: chopping wood in the  
Sunday Star-Times 
 riding his motorbike in the  
Listener 
— 
Grant Robertson 
: That Minister doesn’t know who Lady Gaga is. 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: The member for Wellington Central is so 1950s. I tell him to get with it. This year I say to Mr Robertson we have had nothing but silence. Clare Curran was so frustrated that Mr Goff was making no headway as a great Southern Man that she decided yesterday that it was for her to take up the challenge. The only surprise about her performance at question time yesterday is that she did not turn up with a sheep slung over her shoulders. 
With Labour it is all about style over substance. Nowhere is that more evident than in its attitude to the arts. Let us look at the film industry. National has always championed the film industry. We formed the Film Commission in 1978 although Helen Clark liked telling people she formed it—another example of her zealous regard for the truth! Only last week the member for Wellington Central was talking about film as a contributor to Wellington’s economy but look at his party’s behaviour over  
The Hobbit 
 last year. When it came down to a choice between trade union Australian thugs and the New Zealand film industry the  
Hobbit 
-haters in the Opposition sold out the film industry faster than one could say “unobtanium” that precious metal so sought after by earthlings in the film  
Avatar 
 which of course was created in Weta Workshop. 
Grant Robertson 
: These popular culture references demean the Minister. 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: Mr Robertson has never seen  
Avatar 
 because he is so uncool. 
The same thing can be said about New Zealand music. Labour gets all excited about New Zealand Music Month but for this Government every month is New Zealand Music Month. Turning up to a few functions and eating canapés does not amount to supporting the arts in my book. We have a wonderful story to tell about the arts. We have a wonderful story to tell about the Budget. These are the areas of core focus for this John Key - led Government. We will always walk what we talk. This is a great Budget and I say to the member for Clutha-Southland: “Well done faithful servant.”