Smith NickHon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for Building and Housing): I want to just challenge a few points that were made in that speech by Jan Logie that are so relevant to the Estimates. Let us get the first fact right: this National Government is the first Government ever—the first Government ever—to provide ongoing funding for emergency housing. There is $41 million in this Budget. Nine years Labour was in Government and it never provided funding for the Monte Cecilia Housing Trust or for the home shelters across New Zealand. These Estimates are the very first ever to provide long-term secure funding for emergency housing. The second point I would challenge that member on is that this is the first Government in 40 years to increase the base benefits for families—40 years. This Government has—The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Trevor Mallard): Order! I have previously warned the Minister to focus on the Estimates that we are currently debating. [Interruption] I understand that but I think what he is actually focusing on is something that was announced at least 1 or possibly 2 years ago.Hon Dr NICK SMITH: This year's appropriations provide for the funding in this financial year for the increase in benefits for families and that is the very first increase in 40 years in the base benefit levels for families. I have heard the speeches from the Opposition members who say nothing is being built. I was a little bit bored so I had a look on the net and you know what the lead story on the New Zealand Herald site is? It is this a quote from Mr Graham Darlow the chief executive of New Zealand's largest construction company: I have never seen so much construction activity of such a scale right across New Zealand in my 40 years working in [our construction] industry." This is the chief executive of Fletcher Construction New Zealand's largest construction company. So I say to the members of this Committee who get to their feet and say that there is nothing going on in the building industry that they should get out there and engage with the real sector because the truth is there is more residential construction investment right now than what there has ever been in New Zealand's history. Then I heard the whinges of members opposite about the sale of State houses. Well I am proud—very proud—of the first home scheme that is provided for in these appropriations. I would love to table the letters that I have had from New Zealand families that have been given the opportunity to buy their own home under that scheme. Although Labour and Green members hate Kiwi families buying their own homes we on this side of the Chamber love it. We love the fact that we are giving families in cities like Invercargill like Gisborne like Dunedin like Nelson like Greymouth—all over the country—the opportunity to buy a house. I say to members opposite: what is wrong with allowing a tenant or a first-home buyer to buy their own State house? That is a good thing—that is a good thing—and I challenge members opposite who challenge that. Then we come to the issue of State house building. Well here are the facts: these Estimates make provision for a billion dollars of State housing investment. Do you know what the best that was done during the Labour years was? That party did less than $500 million; our provision is more than double. Let us take the number of houses. Last year Housing New Zealand completed 800 homes. Mr Twyford says that is not nearly enough; I say to Mr Twyford that when Labour was in Government when house prices doubled it never did better in any year than 430. And what do these Estimates provide for? They provide for more than a thousand homes in the next year and even more in the year after and I say again: that shows the progress that is being made. The very last point I want to make to Opposition members is around the HomeStart scheme. Why will they not support New Zealand families getting some support from the Government to buy their first home? Why is it that Labour has promised to repeal that scheme? That is a beacon of hope for thousands of Kiwi families who actually under this Government have got jobs they have got increasing incomes they are getting ahead and they want to save their money in KiwiSaver and use that scheme to buy their own home."