Ogilvy Bernie: Supplementary Estimates — Imprest Supply Debate 
Ogilvy Bernie: Supplementary Estimates — Imprest Supply Debate 
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BERNIE OGILVY (United Future) 
: 
 This debate on the Imprest Supply Bill is really about how best to use taxpayers’ money. We know that it is taxpayers who bring the money to Parliament and that it is the Government that has the responsibility of spending it and using it efficiently and effectively. We know that money is required for a lot of things in the governing of a nation. Tonight I want to take a moment or two to touch on some of the requirements in education. When we talk about education we realise that there are many needs requiring help and that there is only so much money we can give in terms of fulfilling those needs. We therefore have to choose I imagine what are the most appropriate. United Future asks what we should be teaching in this 21st century. What should we be looking at in terms of our knowledge society? In 30 to 50 years’ time what will we here have left behind? Why are we doing it? How can we best use taxpayers’ money to achieve the maximum set of results? 
Tonight I suggest that there are areas we could allocate moneys to that I believe would be minimal in cost but have lasting benefits in the long term. At this stage I applaud the Government for putting money into early childhood education to an extent that has never happened before. This is a positive move in early intervention and I do not think that anybody in this Parliament would rail against the approach of lifting up our children from the very beginning of their lives so that they can make the greatest possible contribution to the future. Leaving no child out as it were in the endeavour is a maximum way of achieving this. 
The Government has poured enormously into this Budget a programme for the way forward. I have questions about what it means by “beyond 2007”. What does that really mean? How is that held? The Government has made a start in handling some of the tertiary student requirements and I applaud that. It is looking at the quality of teachers and is raising the standards. It is looking at literacy. May I make a statement tonight on behalf of United Future. One of the areas of literacy that we really need to look at is financial literacy. We need to train our children from primary school level onwards in how to look at and handle money—how to manage it properly. When every child grows up he or she becomes an adult and one of the things that adults do is to handle money—to earn it spend it and to learn how to accumulate it. 
One of the missing literacies within our education process right now—and I ask the Government to consider this—is a literacy programme that would help all our boys and girls become incredibly capable in terms of learning how to become entrepreneurial create capital look at investments properly create a surplus and become a contributor in our society. United Future says that we need to start with our children. Why not lift up our children and therefore our future by encouraging them to become literate in handling finance and money? 
LYNNE PILLAY (Labour—Waitakere) 
: 
 In starting I would like to congratulate Bernie Ogilvy on a great speech and I commend him. I think that United Future is a party that is looking forward. I would also like to talk about my colleague my ”westie” colleague David Cunliffe who spoke earlier in the debate and he spoke passionately. We are a passionate party. He spoke from the heart about what we stand for—about how we are looking forward into our future and delivering for all New Zealanders. I was in my office working away when I 
heard my colleague Mark Peck talking about the pillaging and plundering that went on through the 1990s under the National Party. I look over to the Opposition benches now and see two hard-working older gentlemen. Peter Brown says proudly: “I’m just a seaman.” but he knows the value of hard work. Doug Woolerton who is sitting beside him is a hard-working farmer. Like the Labour Party and this Government they believe in hard-working families and hard-working people reaping the rewards. That is what this party stands for. That is what this Government stands for. 
In contrast we heard drivel from members on the other side of the House. It was absolute nonsense. Shane Ardern is off his tractor! At dinner time I saw him eat very unhealthy food in the cafe. He was eating a big hamburger and chips; Sue Kedgley would have been shocked. Then he comes into this House along with his colleagues and talks a lot of drivel and absolute nonsense. That is all we have heard from that side of the House. 
I have no time for nonsense. This party has no time for nonsense. This Government is not into nonsense. It is into good stable government that delivers. It is into quality education and an affordable effective health system that promotes good living a good diet and healthy living. This Government is into security in retirement for those older people amongst us now who will be looking towards their retirement. Those of us who are 50 and approaching it know that this Government will provide. Will a National Government provide for people? No it will not. There are no guarantees whatsoever. Quality education is what this party stands for. We invest in quality education. 
Shane Ardern 
: How long? 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: Forever and for as long as we are in Government. If there is a change of Government that is when those things come to an end. Opportunity in jobs and training and affordable tertiary education and apprenticeships are things very dear to my heart. Apprenticeships bring skills into our businesses and production and that means that our businesses grow. The result is a buoyant winning economy and with that we can invest in our people in working families in New Zealand and in our future. That is what this Government is about. We are upfront. We say “Here’s the deal. We invest in people. We get you into work. We’ll support you and your family in work. Why? Because it’s good for you and it’s good for our country.” 
The leader of this party the leader of this Government and the MPs in this party talk about our policies. We wear our policies like our hearts on our sleeves. I can see National Party members and its leadership members hang their heads in shame. Where are their policies on health education holidays defence nuclear issues and superannuation? They do not have any. They flip-flop around and New Zealanders simply will not accept that. New Zealanders want to stay with a Government that works for them and with them. Labour does not want to beat up on people.