Doocey MattMATT DOOCEY (National—Waimakariri): I rise on behalf of the Opposition to support the motion of the Hon Simon Bridges that this House has no confidence in this bungling and incompetent Government because they are overseeing a slowing economy declining job creation a rising cost of living and they are failing to deliver on their promises to New Zealanders."God bless quiet New Zealanders. I'm not overly religious but I must say quiet New Zealanders are the salt of this country and I know that because Waimakariri is full of quiet New Zealanders. As referenced across in Government—because they will be quite worried about this with the recent Australian elections where Scott Morrison credited the quiet Australians. But we do know that with all this rhetoric—New Zealanders don't like rhetoric. I'll tell you what where we can reference that from is the day after the Budget—this all-singing all-dancing Budget—The AM Show held a poll across their various mediums asking New Zealanders was there anything in the Budget for them. What do you reckon the result of that poll was? Was there anything in the poll for them? Eighty-three percent—Andrew Falloon: How many? MATT DOOCEY: —83 percent—said there was nothing in this Budget for them. That's the quiet New Zealanders that this Government are going to have to watch out for because they see through quite a lot of the rhetoric. To explain that I want to reference a day I had in my electorate recently on Thursday in the mighty Waimakariri. I had three public meetings and a business visit that day. The first public meeting was in a town called Woodend. Woodend is a very busy little town that until recently just before this Government came along was going to have a good motorway built there with the Woodend bypass the Belfast to Pegasus motorway. Wasn't that right Minister? Of course when I raised that this motorway was due to be cancelled by this Government because they'd taken $5.5 billion out of State highway funding and redirected it into public transport the Minister said in response to my accusations that I was politicking and this motorway was on track. Unfortunately the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) turned up to the Woodend Community Association meeting the AGM and said that because of a change in priorities it's dropped out of the 10-year plan for the NZTA. What was in the Budget for those residents? Nothing—no commitment to the vital roading infrastructure that they needed. In fact the metrics that got them a motorway under the last National Government—16000 car movements going through the Main North Road through that town of Woodend forecasted to go to 26000 in the next 10 years. Mums and dads are taking their kids across that main motorway to the local primary school without even a pedestrian crossing yet under this Government there was no money for roading. In fact you know what? That was the veracity of the conversation on Thursday. Not only that but NZTA have told them that the safety consultation they've had—and they've had two safety consultations. Any solutions that they identify because they've lost out on a motorway to make that main road safe now have to apply for funding first and what happened in this Budget? There was a decrease in the Budget for safer roads. So here we have provincial New Zealand regional New Zealand not getting the investment that they need. What was this Budget for them? Nothing and that's why 83 percent polled that there was nothing in this Budget for them. They're the quiet New Zealanders that you'll need to watch out for because they're the ones who will vote on their back pocket. Jobs incomes infrastructure—all that's lacking in this Budget. The next meeting I had on Thursday I went to the new subdivision Ravenswood. They're selling brand new three-bedroom houses with internal garages for $439000—cheaper than KiwiBuild. See what this Government doesn't realise because they're so focused on State intervention is they could've just followed the example of Canterbury post-earthquakes. The lesson there was when the earthquake recovery Minister drew circles on the map to free up land what happened? The builders came in and they built houses. They actually surpassed the amount of houses we lost in the earthquakes and we have annual house price inflation of 3 or 4 percent. The lesson is there. You free up land and it increases supply which equals demand. You don't need KiwiBuild. What a failed policy. That's why I can understand that no one wants to touch it and that's why there was nothing about KiwiBuild in this Budget. Then the second public meeting I had that day was out in a small town called Oxford—population of 4000 people. I had a business meeting. What was in the Budget for small business? Nothing—nothing. Who employs the most people in New Zealand? Small and medium business. They're the ones who risk their capital to invest another dollar to employ another local member of the community as another staff member. What did this Budget give small and medium business? Zip—nada. Nothing for roading nothing for small business. We've got houses cheaper than KiwiBuild. But it doesn't stop there. The final public meeting of the day was in a small rural area called Cust. We got a hundred farmers in Cust in a woolshed meeting at Taggart Farms and boy did they let loose because in the "Waimak" we know. We're New Zealanders—we're like the rest of New Zealand. When farming does well the whole of New Zealand does well and when farming does better the regions do better because they underpin the whole of our economy. What did this Government give primary industries? Red tape and regulation—nothing. Oh hold on they did invest in forestry. I tell you what what's the flow-on effect of forestry in small-town New Zealand in rural New Zealand? Nothing. So you can say what you want in the beltway but get out to where the real people are and what do they say? Eighty-three percent of New Zealanders said there was nothing in the Budget for them and they're quiet New Zealanders who will exercise their vote next year. They'll be voting on jobs incomes and infrastructure. Hon Willie Jackson: You had another meeting? MATT DOOCEY: The Hon Willie Jackson says did I have another meeting. Well at least I'm declaring my meetings in the House—something your colleagues are a bit averse to doing. I do want to—Hon Willie Jackson: Can you sit down now? MATT DOOCEY: No I won't sit down actually. Yeah I won't. Unfortunately I know you're not happy about what I'm saying but actually that's what quiet New Zealanders are saying and the reason you want me to sit down is because you're hearing it too. ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams): Order! Order! I am not part of this debate. Thank you. MATT DOOCEY: The reason the Hon Willie Jackson doesn't want to hear what I'm saying is because he is hearing it too—he knows. Quiet New Zealanders are not happy. They're not happy. They got no investment into valuable infrastructure no roads that will increase our productivity and increase the time that mums and dads will have with their kids and not be stuck in cars. Small business—nothing for them. They're the ones that employ mums and dads in small towns. They got nothing. Ginny Andersen: Paid parental leave. You blocked it. You vetoed paid parental leave. ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams): Order! Order! Do not bring me into the debate. MATT DOOCEY: Government doesn't build roads. Government doesn't employ people in small business. Government doesn't build houses. Government doesn't do farming. This whole Government is fundamentally focused on the big ideological debate. What about the pragmatism of quiet New Zealanders? That's what you guys are going to have to watch out for. ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams): I understand this is a split call. Ginny Andersen you have five minutes."