Yang Jian: Debate on Prime Minister’s StatementText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeYang Jian: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement[Sitting date: 12 February 2014. Volume:696;Page:15895. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Dr JIAN YANG (National): It is a great pleasure to be the final speaker in today’s debate to support the Prime Minister’s statement to Parliament. I am very proud to be a part of the National-led Government a Government that has continued to work hard to make this country a better place for New Zealanders and their families.Before I come to the Prime Minister’s statement let us refresh ourselves a bit about the 2008 financial crisis. That financial crisis is considered by many economists to be the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. But the New Zealand economy had already entered a recession in early 2008 before the effects of the global financial crisis set in later in the year. That was under a Labour Government. The outlook for the New Zealand economy deteriorated rapidly following the intensification of the global financial crisis in September 2008. Business and consumer confidence plummeted as uncertainty dominated the global financial and economic environment. Since then the National-led Government has managed our finances responsibly while taking a number of measures to stimulate our economy. Despite the severe impact of the global financial crisis and natural disasters such as the Christchurch earthquakes our economy has been growing.Labour and the Greens on the other hand still have not learnt anything from their last time in Government. They are already talking about going on a huge spending spree. Look at what Labour’s last big spending splurge between 2005 and 2008 did to our country. It increased the deficit to almost 9 percent of GDP mortgage interest rates were averaging 10.9 percent food prices went up 11 percent in Labour’s last year and the economy was in premature recession. You cannot spend your way into prosperity. National understands that and that is why we are building a stronger economy that will provide higher incomes for New Zealand families.The Prime Minister has outlined four priorities that will continue to grow our economy and create more jobs deliver better front-line health and education services and a safer New Zealand and support the Christchurch rebuild. Our economy continues to grow. It went up 3.5 percent between September 2012 and September 2013. Treasury has forecast that our economy will grow at a similar rate in 2014. This Government will produce a Budget surplus next year while most other countries will still be in deficit and building up debt. We have done this by responsibly managing the Government’s finances to reduce our debt. Business confidence is at its highest level since 1999. Thereare 66000 more people employed now than a year ago—an increase of 3 percent. The unemployment rate is the lowest in 3 years and expected to drop further as the economy continues to gather momentum.As well as our success in growing the economy we are also delivering results from our public services. Recorded crime is at a 33-year low welfare dependency is reducing and more elective surgery is being performed in our public health system. We are working to deliver Better Public Services for New Zealanders through police courts public hospitals schools tertiary training and the many other ways that people and businesses deal with the Government.The Prime Minister said in his statement that Ministers will be continuing their comprehensive programme of trade delegations focused on Asia. This is part of our Business Growth Agenda where there are hundreds of initiatives to improve the productivity and competitiveness of our economy. Last week China Southern Airlines China’s largest airline and the third-largest in the world flew its first charter flight between Guangzhou and Christchurch. I was there at the opening ceremony. This epitomises the strength of New Zealand’s and China’s relationship and will also bring many benefits to the South Island. China is now one of New Zealand’s largest trading partners—sometimes the largest. I am sure it will be the largest before too long. I say this with confidence because I was happily involved in promoting trade between China and New Zealand and witnessed the growth of trade between the two countries.Similarly I have witnessed the growth of the China market for New Zealand tourism. China is our second-largest source of international tourists. We have been working hard to promote New Zealand in China and to make sure our tourism facilities are convenient and friendly to Chinese tourists. The number of Chinese tourists has been growing rapidly. They are staying in New Zealand longer and hence spend more. China is also our largest source of international students but we need to do more to attract more international students.The Prime Minister talked about building our export education and the many initiatives that are being implemented to attract international students to study at our schools and universities. As a former university lecturer I am very supportive of this. Today the Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment the Hon Steven Joyce announced that the Government would invest $465000 co-funding a dozen new growth initiatives in the international education industry. International education is an important part of our economy and National is committed to doubling the value of the industry to New Zealand to $5 billion by 2025.Our success speaks volumes and is delivering for New Zealanders. We are moving forward not backwards. The John Key - led Government continues to focus on the issues that matter to our economy to our community and to New Zealanders: a stronger economy more jobs better front-line health and education services a safer New Zealand and rebuilding Christchurch. Thank you.