Martin TraceyHon TRACEY MARTIN (Minister for Children): Kia ora Mr Speaker. Thank you very much. I rise on behalf of New Zealand First to add our voice in support of the Families Package (Income Tax and Benefits) Bill. This is probably the first major statement to show New Zealand that this Government is a Government of change which is what the majority of New Zealand voters voted for.This is a Government that has decided that we will support our seniors through a winter energy package—and many other families as well. This is a Government that has decided that as many members of the Opposition's parents experienced through the universal family benefit we will start to move our country back to a place where rather than introduce at least 15 more taxes on the New Zealand public—which is what the previous Government did over their term while they with one hand said that they were putting more money into the pockets of New Zealanders. Remember the phrase fiscally neutral"? Does anybody remember the phrase "fiscally neutral"? When they gave with a tax cut with one hand they raised 15 other taxes with the other. One of them was the paper boy tax. Anybody remember that?So just to put things in a little bit of perspective I am delighted to stand to say that the turn that needed to take place in New Zealand to show that a Government will support our citizens more fully more appropriately in a way that all New Zealanders can see has benefit specifically more logically for our children then we will stand and support it. We have worked collegially with the Labour Party and with the Green Party.Talk about team building. I can see why the Opposition has had to be team building. They filibustered all the way through with some of the most bizarre arguments like "it's not cold in spring" or "it's not cold in autumn" or something like that and showing an amazing amount of ignorance which they shared around themselves by not knowing the 28-day rule which has been in place for something like 25 to 30 years with regard to superannuation. I mean they've had to be team building because it's the first time probably they've actually had to do work without a whole lot of support staff behind them to prep up. So no wonder it's team building and I hope it works for them as they go forward.But I want to close by reading a comment from the Children's Commissioner. He says "We welcome the Families Package announced today and we hope it will make a big difference to the lives of many New Zealand children … These are really positive steps many of which echo recommendations … by the Expert Advisory Group on child poverty in 2012." The expert advisory group was formed and asked to do that work by a National Government who then didn't put in place the recommendations their own expert advisory group asked them to do. It took this Government to have the courage to actually put in those recommendations.He continues by saying "Raising family incomes enabling warmer homes and providing additional assistance for the first year of a child's life (targeted thereafter) will do a great deal to improve outcomes for our children. Income is fundamental to better outcomes for families. … We are excited to see this commitment by Government along with the continued contribution by the philanthropic sector NGOs and the whole community … ensuring all children have the opportunity to develop and thrive in … New Zealand."I think the word "excited" is a good one to highlight because that's one of the words that most NGOs and charities have used since 26 October. The other word that is being used a lot throughout New Zealand right now is "hopeful".Kiritapu Allan: Hopeful.Hon TRACEY MARTIN: Hopeful. Young people—young people are hopeful finally after nine years. Our older citizens are hopeful finally after nine years. Our families are hopeful finally after nine years. Our student body is hopeful because now they see a Government with empathy. They see a Government that hasn't decided that the dollar is king; they see a Government that knows that it's people that make up a country it's people that the Government must support and that is what this Government will do."