Hayes Joanne: General DebateText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeHayes Joanne: General Debate[Sitting date: 02 July 2014. Volume:700;Page:19159. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]JOANNE HAYES (National):Tēnā koe Mr Speaker. As the last speaker in this debate I stand to support my colleagues on the outstanding work that this National-led Government continues to do for this country when it comes to economic growth. When we came into Government the cupboards were bare. Actually they were more than bare; we found bills that needed paying. [Interruption] Yes in 2008 the previous Government had left office and left a growing debt behind it—shame on you—in a so-called time of surpluses for this country. So how did the previous Government stuff up so badly? I know: it did not have a plan and that party still does not have a plan today.In addition to this there was the global financial crisis the Christchurch earthquakes and the Pike River mine tragedy followed by the Rena and recently the Christchurch floods. Yet through all of this it was this National-led Government that has remained resolute in its mission to do the things that matter most to New Zealanders as we continue to build a brighter future for everyone. It is a mission that this National-led Government set in 2008 and one that has been recently swiped by the Opposition because it has nothing left in its tank.Iain Lees-Galloway: Ha!JOANNE HAYES: Yes. It is a mission that has seen the emergence of a growing economy planned by a carefully crafted financial plan—Iain Lees-Galloway: We’ve got a few more ideas than roads.JOANNE HAYES: —listen listen—underpinned by a strong Business Growth Agenda an agenda for New Zealand to build a more productive and competitive economy.So where has this economic growth come from? It has come from the regions—the regions of course—and our aim is for all the regions to achieve their potential. Most have experienced strong growth and most have lower unemployment rates. Just look at the South Island. Unemployment is at 3.9 percent. That is low. But that is not the only thing we are doing. We are getting our regions moving through our roads of national significance and the regional roading projects. That is a total investment of $600 million. This will help the regions to lift production and transport through these regions will be made much safer with our Safer Journeys strategy.But this is not the only thing we are doing. We have got ultra-fast and rural broadband which allows the faster and more efficient digital and electronic communication so the isolation issues faced by those in the rural sector have been minimised. This Government is encouraging oil and gas exploration and we are doing this with our environment in mind. Taranaki is a great example of such a region which we have just heard about before from the member from Taranaki. It has benefited from oil and gas exploration—40 percent of its GDP comes from oil and gas exploration. There are not many Taranaki people whom I have met who are sad about the region’s economic growth from oil and gas. Just imagine the potential benefits for the Otago and West Coast regions.The Government’s Youth Guarantee and increased apprenticeships plan see more opportunities for our rangatahi to work in the many trades areas where employment abounds. Just look at the opportunities in building and construction in Canterbury. We are rebuilding Christchurch in all ways from the central city development plan to the social housing accord. Christchurch stands on the precipice of great things as the opportunities it presents in growing the Canterbury regional economy go without saying.But let us not forget one of our key regional economic growth areas: tourism. We have combined this with fitness and well-being in our national cycle trails. Not only do we get fit but we get to see places that we would not have been able to see in a car or a bus. We get to smell regional economic growth people in the rural sector in our native forests and in the grand expanse of Central Otago but the best part about this is that everyone wins. Our gains in regional economic growth will be lost if the policies of the left are allowed to get in there. Introducing a carbon price five times the world price and having a capital gains tax on every productive business and farm would go a significant way towards stopping economic growth.This National-led Government is working for all New Zealanders. Our economy grew by 3.8 percent in the year ended March—the third-highest in the world’s developed economies. Growth is forecast to be 4 percent. We have a plan we have a hard-working and diverse team and we have the most outstanding leader in our Prime Minister the Rt Hon John Key a leader with international respect from our global leaders. He is the man of the people—the only man to lead this country into the future.The debate having concluded the motion lapsed.