Nash Stuart: General DebateText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeNash Stuart: General Debate[Sitting date: 02 December 2015. Volume:710;Page:8485. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]STUART NASH (Labour—Napier): I have heard a number of National speakers in the last hour and when National talks about surpluses Labour talks about communities. National talks about GDP; Labour talks about people and jobs. National talks money; we talk about opportunity. That is the difference between a tired party that is lost for ideas and Labour which is energetic hungry and aspirational for all New Zealand—and that includes regional New Zealand. The rhetoric over there is about aspiration; the reality is so far from that. Those members have just lost sight of it.From ponytails to plastic sheep to pandas this Government has misfired because it has taken its eye off the ball. It has lost sight of the issues that are important to the people of New Zealand things like jobs like education like decent health care—heaven forbid! I would love to hear our Prime Minister talk about what the Government is going to do to grow the economy as opposed to his habit of weeing in the shower and about what he is going to do for those in the provinces as opposed to silly sideshows like Saudi sheep and ponytails. The thing is John Key started his reign with energy with Ministers like Tony Ryall and Simon Power but like rats they have deserted a sinking ship and now the party John Key leads has become tired moribund out of touch and out of fresh ideas. If those members think that changing the flag will put more money into the back pockets of good hard-working Kiwis will lift one child out of poverty will create one job—Jono Naylor: Who said that was the aim?STUART NASH: —then they are really out of touch with the majority of Kiwis and with what New Zealanders want a Government to do for them.That member over there said: “Who said this was the aim?”. Well what I would really like to know is what the aim is—what the aim is—of this flagship policy of changing the flag. We all know—New Zealanders know—it is a vanity project for the Prime Minister and that is a shame because New Zealanders want a Prime Minister who is working for them.Labour will. Under Andrew Little Labour has a vision for the future. It is based around jobs. It is based around employment that will put more money into our communities and our homes put food on the table and allow people to pay their power bills and live a life with dignity. Labour believes in the value of education and of equality of opportunity. Labour believes in decent health care affordable for all. The year 2016 will see Labour begin to deliver a plan for all New Zealand and all New Zealanders. We will continue to engage with those in our cities our towns and our provinces and rural communities. Labour has started this year how we want to continue. We have visited over 50 different electorates. We have engaged with those who are looking for a vision who are looking for a Government to actually provide solutions and not things like ponytails—not to get distracted by silly sideshows.In conclusion—Jacqui Dean: Like leadership contests?STUART NASH: —National has run out of ideas and is concentrating on sideshows and silly distractions.That member said New Zealand is looking for leadership and I completely agree with her—I completely agree with her. New Zealanders are not looking for a Prime Minister who believes that pulling a ponytail is funny. They are not looking for a Minister who rules a department that buys $500 hair straighteners has problems with plastic sheep and does dirty deals with Saudis.Labour has the energy. It has the leadership. It has the passion. It has the people to deliver to find solutions to the issues that the people of New Zealand are telling us are important. New Zealanders are looking for leadership. They are now looking for an alternative Government because they are tired of this one. Labour is ready to deliver for the people of New Zealand and come 2016 the smiles of those on the backbenches will slowly begin to disappear because they know 2016 will begin to deliver the change that 2017 will bring. Thank you very much.The debate having concluded the motion lapsed.