Adams Amy: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Adams Amy: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:661;Page:10028] 
1. 
AMY ADAMS (National—Selwyn) 
 to the  
Minister of Finance 
: What challenges does the Government face in preparing Budget 2010 compared with Budget 2009? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance) 
: 
 Budget 2009 was presented when New Zealand had been in recession for 18 months under the previous Government’s economic mismanagement and then it was suffering from a global recession. At the time the Government faced wasteful government expenditure that was out of control a depressed and demoralised bureaucracy and a large number of inefficient and ineffective programmes. So Budget 2009 dealt with many of those issues; Budget 2010 will focus on positioning New Zealanders for sustainable growth and recovery. 
Amy Adams 
: What reports has he seen on the economic problems this Government inherited? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: The New Zealand Institute has issued a report card on the country’s economic performance over the last 20 years. It notes that New Zealand’s productivity growth from 2005 to 2008 was 23rd out of 30 OECD countries. Greece passed New Zealand in 2007 and workers in Italy produced $15 more per hour than workers in New Zealand. The report card acknowledges that a range of Government measures in place now will contribute to lifting per capita output. 
Stuart Nash 
: Speaking of the New Zealand Institute which of the following is true: the Minister’s statement that the Government has focused on one top priority which is the large number of young New Zealanders who are either losing their jobs or cannot get a job; or the finding in the New Zealand Institute report card that this country has the second-highest unemployment rate—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I apologise to the honourable member. Thanks to interjections I could not hear that question at all. I ask members to be a little more reasonable with their interjections and I ask Stuart Nash please to start his question again. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I accept that both sides of the House were responsible for that but while you were on your feet Sandra Goudie loudly interjected at you while you were speaking. I think that in the interests of equity it would be good for there to be at least some reprimand for her. I think you heard her. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I do not think we need to be too pedantic. I heard someone interject while I was on my feet but I could not pick up who it was. The member will have noticed that I looked around. I will not invite members to tell tales on each other under points of order. But I say to members on the Government backbench that they should be a little more careful. If they interject when the Speaker is on his feet they may find they take an early shower. 
Stuart Nash 
: Which of the following is true: his statement that the Government has focused on one top priority which is the large number of young New Zealanders who are either losing their jobs or cannot get a job; or the finding in the New Zealand Institute report card that this country has the second-highest unemployment rate for 15 to 19-year-olds in the OECD? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: It is quite likely that both statements are true. In fact I know that the first one is certainly true. The Government is focused on creating jobs for young people. The member will know that a lot of those young people lost their jobs in the retail domestic construction and government sectors when the previous Government was pumping up this economy way beyond its capacity. They were not real jobs and it is unfortunate those young people lost them—very unfortunate. We are motivated to provide sustainable jobs in real industries. 
Amy Adams 
: What will Budget 2010 do to address this country’s economic underperformance? 
Hon BILL ENGLISH 
: The Government has made a good start in turning round the poor productivity and growth record. We have been assisted by a recovery in the global economy. Budget 2010 will set out the next steps in the Government’s plan including billions of dollars of investment in infrastructure overhauling our regulatory framework redesigning the New Zealand tax system lifting productivity in the public sector improving capital markets and continuing to aim for higher educational standards.