Omer IbrahimIBRAHIM OMER (Labour): Thank you Mr Speaker. It's a pleasure to be the last speaker in this general debate. Labour is backing our tertiary education. In the last few weeks as a proud Wellingtonian and a former cleaner student and union organiser at Victoria University I was deeply concerned by the proposed job cuts at Victoria University. The university is a key part of our city; it provides culture energy and jobs. I have spent the last few weeks like many people talking to many people from Victoria University—academics students and staff—who were very concerned about these proposed cuts. We all listened to their concerns and I've also been talking to my friends and colleagues in Government. I'm proud to be part of the Government that is finally listening to these concerns and is stepping in to keep this vital sector thriving. We are providing an extra $128 million over the next two years for this sector. That's on top of Budget 2023 which increased student subsidies by 5 percent providing the biggest boost in university funding in 20 years. I want particularly to highlight the more than $28 million that Victoria University of Wellington will get from this over the next two years—that will make a real difference for Wellington students and academics. The extra funding comes from a transfer of funds that were not spent in Vote Tertiary Education. The fees freeze came due to the lower enrolments. We know this is not going to be enough but this is going to make a huge difference. I'm proud to have played a small role in advocating for this. But we know also that there are structural problems in universities' funding as well and that's why the Government is also establishing a review to take a thorough look at tertiary education funding. The additional funding we have provided for the next two years will let the sector breathe for now. I have spoken to Dougal McNeill who was a key in advocating for this and he said I quote This is a lifeline. It will never solve the whole problem but this provides us with a lifeline. And thank you." I understand the students and the staff are now calling for a moratorium on staff and programme cuts. Universities have an operational independence but I hope this funding is considered as part of any further decision on courses and jobs. Victoria University has been a big part of my life and in the lives of so many Wellingtonians and we need to do everything to keep it alive and thriving. I want to thank many people who advocated for this. This includes Dougal McNeill who is from the Tertiary Education Union; Vice-Chancellor Nic Smith; and Jessica Ye from Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association and I want to keep working with all of them on what we can all do to keep Wellington succeeding. I would like to thank the Minister who stepped in at a critical time in doing this and providing this funding. She engaged. She listened. She was concerned like many of us. She stepped in at the right time. Budget 2023 does a lot of things but for me part of the proud moment is just this week we reached the milestone of 12000 public houses. Like many low-paid people when I moved to New Zealand I was provided with a Kāinga Ora house and that gave me a head start in life. Otherwise I wouldn't be here today. I wouldn't be able to be doing what we're doing. So what Labour is providing by providing 12000 public houses is changing people's lives. We are helping people to thrive by having a roof over their head. Wellington will have a good share of this. There will be 300 new homes which will provide homes for 900 people which is the Arlington project—something that we are very proud of. And finally Budget 2023 also stops the $5 prescription fees. A few weeks ago I spoke to a friend who runs a pharmacy here in Wellington who told me that the Government needs to step in and do something. After the announcement immediately she called me to say thank you to the Labour Government but also to say shame on National who is vowing to bring this policy back. We are proud of Budget 2023. We are proud of Grant who did the unthinkable in putting this Budget in at such a difficult time. Thank you Mr Speaker.The debate having concluded the motion lapsed."