King Colin: General Debate 
King Colin: General Debate 
[Volume:662;Page:10336] 
COLIN KING (National—Kaikoura) 
: 
 It is a pleasure to speak during this general debate. We have just got the Labour Brand Survey and as I turn to the first page I see that the first question is: “Can you describe Labour in six (or fewer) words?”. In describing Labour I would say that it wasted and squandered the best times. That is why the Labour Opposition is in the doldrums. Labour is doomed. It is destined for political oblivion because of the way it wasted and squandered the very best times that New Zealand has experienced over the last 30 years. 
When that member on the other side Darren Hughes resumed his seat he had really identified the problem on the Opposition benches. Labour is very much like an empty drum. When it is beaten it creates confusion. What we see in the House is that there is a clear choice for New Zealanders. Do people want focus direction and purpose or will people look again at what Labour offers? 
Let us look at what Labour offers. There is no clear message or direction. What we saw over the last 9 years was a waste and squandering of the very best times. It would be easy to go into how that occurred when we look at the areas of education health and law and order but really the problem the Opposition has is at the top. We know that when there is confusion and disarray it is all at the top. 
The problem for Labour is that it has a demoralised leader who has difficulty with identifying himself and it is likewise with the front-benchers. Phil Goff used to lead off the debate when Labour was in Government. He was considered a big hitter even though he was outside the country most of the time. However leadership does not necessarily fit well with people when they move into another role. What we have seen is that Phil Goff came in like a lion and he has gone out like a lamb. He has reduced his own persona to mediocrity. He accompanies demonstrations; he does not lead demonstrations. He rides on buses and motorbikes. He is so much the average man that he goes around totally unnoticed. 
The other day we got a bit of an insight into how Phil Goff is thinking on the inside. He is quite envious of the Prime Minister John Key. He praised John Key’s political skills and he nearly went as far as saying he would vote for Mr Key. So we can understand that there is a lot of disarray over on the Labour benches—they are in a demoralising situation. One thing about Phil Goff is that he is willing to learn but when we look at the rest of the Opposition front bench we see that they have not yet realised that they are in Opposition. What are left are the remnants of a visionless failed Labour Party. Labour was lazy in Government and it is lazier in Opposition. On this side of the House is a Government that has clear messages and well-designed plans. This Government is working on those focus plans to restore this country’s economy. Who is doing that? Of course it is a National-led Government. 
Let us have a look at taxation. In my view there is no better way to leave money in the provinces and the regions than to leave it with the people who worked hard to earn it whether they be wage earners employers or investors. When we send money to a Government department we expect with blind faith that it will be used in the best possible way. We are looking forward to 20 May and to a Budget that will reset the incentives for taxation so that it is about enterprise hard work investment and saving—everything that is contrary to what Labour did in Government. It encouraged speculation sloth and poor practice. 
We are very enthusiastic with regard to 20 May when we will see a major step forward. Unfortunately because of the problems that Labour faces at the moment it puts off all the hard decisions. The Resource Management Act is one of the things—now it is benefiting the regions immensely.