Lee Melissa: Budget Debate 
Lee Melissa: Budget Debate 
[Volume:664;Page:11693] 
MELISSA LEE (National) 
: 
 It is a pleasure to rise and speak on the Budget but before I do I will comment on just one aspect of the comments of the previous speaker David Shearer about polls. There is nothing to comment on in that particular speech. Does that member live in the same electorate? No he does not. Does he live in the same country? I do not know; I am guessing that he has just recently arrived. Let us talk about the polls. Let us talk about the preferred Prime Minister poll. John Key is at more than 70 percent—oh my God! Where is Phil Goff? He is in never-never land. 
What a brilliant Budget it was. I must say the Minister of Finance the Hon Bill English delivered a Budget to move New Zealand forward both economically and socially making New Zealand a more desirable place. The previous speaker talked about people wanting to move across to Australia. Let us talk about the real terms here. We have net gain. People are moving back to New Zealand because they are so interested in what is going on in New Zealand. They are feeling more secure about New Zealand’s future so they are coming back to New Zealand. That is because of this John Key - led National-led Government. 
This Budget has been long overdue—25 years overdue—as it is the most significant tax reform package in New Zealand in that time. The thing that appeals to me most of all is that the average Kiwi the average Joe Bloggs out there in New Zealand will be rewarded for effort and hard work. It will encourage the average Kiwi to save and it will help families to get ahead. To me that is a fabulous position to be in—to get ahead as a nation. 
There has been some amazing feedback since the Budget; the headlines speak volumes. One that sticks in my mind is “Lollies for all”. 
Craig Foss 
: The  
Dominion Post 
. 
MELISSA LEE 
: It was the  
Dominion Post 
; 
I am sure it was. Everyone knows that the media are not very kind to the Government; the media are not exactly the Government’s public relations spin doctors. But they said: “Lollies for all”. The media have been so positive about the Budget. I have to say that people like those in the Employers and Manufacturers Association are talking about the tax cuts being fair and saying that the Budget is the best thing since sliced bread. 
It has been interesting since 20 May to sit here in Parliament and listen to members opposite do their best to pick holes in this Budget. But from what I have actually listened to so far they are having a difficult time of it. Do members know why? They know they cannot pick holes in it because it is a good Budget. They know that it is a good Budget because two-thirds of New Zealanders will pay a maximum tax of 17.5 percent. That is more than Labour has ever done for its voters. People who have traditionally voted for Labour are getting a better deal with this National Government. New Zealanders who earn less than $48000 per annum will have to pay no more than 17.5 per cent tax. 
Earlier one of the Labour members talked about a tax swindle. It was a catchphrase; Labour is very good at catchphrases—things like the “Axe the Tax” bus. What a fantastic flop that was. Where did the bus go? Did anybody turn up? Hardly anybody not even Labour’s own caucus members turned up. And what is Labour’s answer for building our economy? It is higher taxes increased borrowing and capping public sector salaries. It is incredible to me that Labour wants people to pay more taxes. It complains about what the Government has apparently not done. Is Labour going to reverse the tax cuts? I do not think so. It will not say that. 
What is Labour’s position on tax cuts anyway? I think it has four options even on GST. Let us talk about that. What is Labour’s answer? What is Labour complaining about? This is a fantastic Budget delivering for a better economy and for a better future for our children our grandchildren and all New Zealanders. The average person is $15 better off per week in take-home pay and the average family is $25 better off even if we consider the GST rise. It is a great Budget.