Carter Chris: Budget Debate 
Carter Chris: Budget Debate 
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Hon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Conservation) 
: 
 I was very fascinated by the presentation from the member for Epsom a member whom I have always had very convivial relationships with but a member often described in this House as “Lord Worth”. I am not surprised that that member has been given that title because his speeches do remind me somewhat of the speeches one might hear in the House of Lords—speeches by individuals who are totally out of touch with the reality of the lives of most people in New Zealand society or in British society for that matter. 
Dr Richard Worth 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I have refrained from gratuitous abuse. I am not aware that this particular member has any knowledge of what goes on in the House of Lords. I suggest he confine himself to the facts. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: That is not a point of order. It is a debatable issue. 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: It is with a lot of pride that I speak about the Budget that was presented in the House. It is a Budget that addresses the issues of growth addresses the issues of infrastructure and addresses the issues of social justice. 
I have just put around my electorate of Te Atatu a letter with a summary of what has happened in the Budget. It has gone out to 21000 households. I had a lot of pleasure in helping to deliver them in the weekend. I shall read a summary of the letter because it encapsulates what the Budget has been about and it addresses some of the criticisms of the Budget we have heard both in the House and during the last few days about the Budget. 
It begins: “To the residents of Te Atatu electorate. Dear resident The National and ACT parties talk a lot about tax cuts. Labour has wisely put more money into core community services such as health and education rather than spending the Budget surpluses on tax cuts. Across the Tasman the last Australian Budget delivered a vast $23 billion of tax cuts which resulted in most Australians getting no more than a mere $6 per week. To achieve that the Australian Government had to slash spending including major cuts in public health spending. Tax cuts are like borrowing on your credit card to give yourself a pay rise. Dr Brash talks about $2 billion of tax cuts. For most workers in Te Atatu and the rest of New Zealand this would mean a handful of dollars more a week in their pay packets in return for a likely combination of huge cuts in health education and superannuation spending and a return to the Government borrowing heavily from overseas—a little bit like President Bush has been doing in the United States: funding a war by borrowing from future generations. It is our children who would have to pay off any debt that was so incurred. 
“In contrast the Labour-led Government has delivered a carefully balanced Budget which invests more in public services. Over the next 4 years Labour will invest an extra $4.9 billion more in health $297 million more in tertiary education $57 million more directly on students $169 million more on schools plus $30 million more in IT for schools $152 million more in early childhood education and $47 million more for at-risk kids $173 million more in the police and $410 million more in defence $131 million more in State house construction $300 million more in land transport. 
“As your member of Parliament I am proud to be part of a Government that continues to increase funding for core Government services that has created a strong economy. If you would like to find out more information about this year’s Budget check it out on the Government website www.beehive.govt.nz or call into my electorate office at 300 Great North Road Henderson and find out some more in person.” 
That letter has gone out to the constituents of Te Atatu but what it does is encapsulate why this was a great Budget why it was a Budget that delivered for New Zealand. As part of the Government I have the privilege of being conservation Minister and in this Budget $24.6 million more was delivered for core conservation work around New Zealand. That money helps to do work—from saving the endangered kakapo to delivering more for recreational assets and ecotourism opportunities that bring $2.45 million tourists to our country. This additional funding is a measure of the Government’s commitment to the New Zealand environment our endangered species and the recreational opportunities of Kiwi families. 
Dr Richard Worth 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I suddenly become concerned that a valuable document has been referred to in the House that could appropriately be tabled and that is the letter that the honourable Minister has read from. I just wonder before he goes further whether he might be prepared to table that letter with all the stuff that is in it. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Can I just say that frivolous interjections or points of order designed to break up a speech are out of order. The member knows that. Such tactics actually lead to disorder and are unacceptable to the progress of business through the House. The member should consider Speaker’s ruling 19/8. 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: In addition to that $24.6 million for core conservation work around New Zealand this extra spending $2 million was given for conservation work on the seven Hauraki Gulf islands adjacent to Auckland. That is a fantastic and exciting project where Motutapu and Rangitoto will be made pest-free. They will become not only an incredible venue for biodiversity protection but will be an amazing tourist attraction and only 15 minutes’ drive by boat from downtown Auckland. That is $2 million for Project Hauraki. We call it “Project Doorstep” because it is on the doorstep of Auckland. 
We have another half million dollars in the Budget for the eradication of pests from the Auckland Islands. That will be a ground-breaking project which will attract international interest. Those incredibly important subantarctic islands which are unique in their biodiversity will for the first time be made pest-free will become the breeding ground for vast flocks of albatross and will be a resource and a heritage for all mankind.  
Time 
 magazine has already expressed an interest in covering this project. It will be great for New Zealand great for the Department of Conservation and great for biodiversity gains in our country. 
In addition to the half million dollars that is going to the Auckland Islands another $1.5 million goes into telling the story of New Zealand. So five historic sites—Ship Cove for example in Fiordland—will be given interpretation and opportunities for visitor usage which will be able to tell the story of the history of New Zealand. Finally as part of this wonderful conservation package in the Budget a new visitor centre will be built at Mount Cook. 
Dr Richard Worth 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I am just a bit worried that listeners may have been misled because Ship Cove is not in Fiordland; it is in Marlborough Sounds. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I refer Mr Worth to Speaker’s ruling 19/8 by Mr Speaker Steward in 1891 and tell him he has his first yellow card. 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: I thank the member for his geography lesson. Going back to the list of achievements for conservation a new visitor centre is being built at Mount Cook. 
That in a nutshell is the conservation package. It is fantastic and I am proud to deliver it as Minister of Conservation. 
I turn to local government which is another of my portfolios. The Budget delivers two incredibly important packages. We have put aside $136 million over the next 10 years for a subsidy of up to 100 percent for small rural communities to improve their drinking water. It matches the sewerage subsidy of a similar amount coming through in last year’s Budget and also a new rates rebate funding package of $70 million which should allow 300000 New Zealand households to apply for a rates rebate which will be incredibly important for people on fixed incomes. I am really proud to deliver that. 
Building and housing is my third portfolio and the Budget delivers $22.6 million into that service— 
Dr Richard Worth 
: Leaky homes. 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: —which will provide surety for New Zealanders. I heard the member for Epsom call out “leaky homes”. I do not need to remind the House that it was a National Government that deregulated the building industry that created leaky homes—something that the Hon Dr Nick Smith seems often to forget in this Chamber. 
I realise that my time is almost up but finally in my fourth portfolio of ethnic affairs the Budget provides $4 million more to create job positions on the ground for people who will be working with ethnic communities helping them settle successfully into New Zealand demonstrating that this Labour-led Government is committed to supporting all New Zealanders regardless of their ethnic religious or social background and this $4 million for ethnic affairs will help to strengthen that department established under this Government to work for all Kiwis to settle successfully in this country.