Lotu-Iiga Sam: Budget DebateText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLotu-Iiga Sam: Budget Debate[Sitting date: 02 June 2016. Volume:714;Page:11644. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA (Minister of Local Government): That was the speech of the day from the senior whip on the Government benches. After 7½ years on the Government benches that is the sort of enthusiasm and passion and excitement that this Government brings to bear. I am just glad that Dr Coleman is in the House because I thought Mr Macindoe was about to collapse under the weight of that speech.This Budget is Bill English’s eighth Budget. It is a Budget that focuses on the issues that matter to New Zealanders. What are those issues? In Maungakiekie where I come from the issues that New Zealanders want to hear about are not the de facto relationships between parties across the aisle;they want to know about jobs. So here is the Government’s record on jobs: there are 2.4 million people who are employed in this countrytoday—2.4 million. That is more than at any other time in our history. I am proud of the fact that there are 130000 Pacific people employed today. That is the most of any time in our history. In the last 3 years we have created 200000 jobs. That is 200000 families who have been looked after clothed fed and educated.This economy is growing and it is growing at the rate of 2.8 percent per annum year on year. That is the sort of growth that New Zealanders want that is the sort of growth that New Zealanders expect and that is the sort of growth that will support our communities out there in New Zealand. This growth appears not just by accident; it appears through the careful considered approach by the Minister of Finance alongside the other economic Ministers and it is done through trade agreements. We know that the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement is an agreement that will benefit all New Zealanders but the Labour Party will not support it and the Green Party will not support it because they know that they will argue against what is good for New Zealand. They are the parties of “no”.As we grow the economy we also grow the ability of our Government to support those in need. That is why over the next 4 years—and I am proud of the work that the Minister of Health Jonathan Coleman is doing because the spending on health will go up by $2.2 billion. But it is not just about the increase in spending which is over $4 billion more than the Labour Government ever put into health under Annette King. It is about the quality of spending. It is about the quality of spending on things like disability support services. I am proud of the fact that there is $169 million more being put into that.We also know that bowel cancer screening is a really important thing for New Zealanders. That is why we are investing $39 million—that is right $39 million—into bowel cancer screening and it is taking effect in the coming years.As Associate Minister of Health I am proud of the fact that we have raised taxes on tobacco by 10 percent for the next 4 years year on year—10 percent. What that will do—and we have seen it over the last few years where over the last 5 years we have got 37000 fewer people smoking. That is 37000 fewer people smoking. That is saving lives—that is saving lives. It is promoting the health of all New Zealanders. These are the sorts of measures that as a package are improving the well-being of New Zealanders.Hekia Parata is in the House and we know that the continued investment into early childhood education is good for our children. We know that these are the issues that matter to New Zealanders. We know that these are the things that make a difference in our communities. That is why we stand by the Hon Bill English in supporting this Budget and that is why this Government continues to be a popular Government. Thank you.