Mallard Trevor: Debate on Crown Entities Public Organisations and  State Enterprises — In Committee 
Mallard Trevor: Debate on Crown Entities Public Organisations and  State Enterprises — In Committee 
[Volume:638;Page:8798] 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Associate Minister of Finance) 
: 
 I acknowledge and put it on the record that the previous speaker was Mr Craig Foss from Tukituki. I think that everyone who was listening to this debate should know who it was. I had to ask just in order to check that but it was Mr Craig Foss from Tukituki. People who were listening to him should know that because frankly although he actually has more experience than the Leader of the Opposition in the finance markets and has done better than him he should know a lot more than he showed he did.  
 Mr Craig Foss should know that one of the reasons the Finance and Expenditure Committee is I understand contemplating an inquiry is that we cannot trust Bill English on this matter.  
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Order! 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: On the question of monetary policy as the member was indicating going before the committee he asked the reason for that Mr Chairman so I think I am allowed to give a response. The response is that Mr Bill English when involved in confidential discussions— 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: Pulled the pin. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: —pulled the pin made them public and undermined his own leader who was supportive of a particular mechanism. So this Government has decided that if the committee decides to do so it will be good to have something that is clear and transparent and to have open discussion about it.  
The member makes points about fiscal policy. He is one of the worst members in terms of demanding more Government spending. He wants tax cuts and more spending and then he complains about fiscal policy. 
Craig Foss 
: How’s your productivity? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Well some productivity from that member would be good. Some productivity from that member would be a change. 
Craig Foss 
: You don’t even measure it. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: It is very very hard to measure productivity like that—very hard to measure stuff that does not happen.  
The next point I want to make goes to the contrast between the parties on the fiscal approach. The National Party has announced today that it will strip money from working families and give it to National’s mates by way of tax cuts. 
Craig Foss 
: What did your tax rates do? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: That is exactly the point. He wants to strip money from working families. He has indicated that he wants a tighter fiscal policy. At the same time he wants a looser fiscal policy. But on the way there he wants to have a transfer of money from people with kids to his rich mates. That is not on. That is the sort of election we want to have. We will have an election on that—on the National Party stripping money from working families and giving it to its rich mates. This Government will be keen to have that sort of debate albeit it will be one more about fiscal policy and the approaches to that than about monetary policy. But given that the member brought that into this discussion I thank him very much and ask him to bring it on.