Hamilton RyanRYAN HAMILTON (National—Hamilton East): Thank you Madam Speaker. We've heard a lot tonight about arrogance and control. I wonder: did the Productivity Commission ask the previous Government to bloat the Public Service? Did the Productivity Commission ask the previous Government to increase the jobseeker benefit by 66000 over the last six years? Was that arrogance or control? I might be new here but I thought I heard the Hon James Shaw talk about a rounding error of circa $6 million. I'm not too good at my maths but I'm pretty sure $6 million is more than a rounding error. He did make some good recommendations though and I'm sure Minister Seymour will be taking note. He mentioned things about amending the policy to inform the incoming Government and they could maybe listen to those recommendations. I think that's an incredibly good idea. I just wonder why he didn't suggest it six years ago when the Productivity Commission was already up and running. A coalition Government established the Productivity Commission 13 years ago and it was quite effective for a season. But that season has now passed. In the interest of productivity it is actually now time to reset and innovate. We've been told that it's ironic and arrogant but I'd submit to you that it's actually called leadership and humility.Productivity is at the heart of this coalition agreement and indeed a refocused ministry will have the tools to cut through red tape that the Productivity Commission didn't especially as the last Government didn't really listen anyway. There's a proverb that comes to mind: hōhonu kakī pāpaku uaua"—"long on words short on action." I think that sums up a lot of what we've seen over the previous few years.We know that housing affordability is inextricably linked to productivity. What have we seen in the housing market over the last few years? Did the Productivity Commission say "Remove the interest deductibility."? What happened there? Did the Productivity Commission say "Remove interest deductibility."? Did that seem like a good idea? We've got more empty houses than we've ever had in New Zealand and yet we're in the middle of a housing crisis.What would productivity look like from a policy-setting point of view? Let me give you a few good examples under the coalition's going for housing growth example. We'll remove rounding errors of $6 million—they don't factor in.Hon Rachel Brooking: Getting rid of medium density is that going to help?RYAN HAMILTON: What about—sorry there's a chirping noise going on from the other side there. Value capture—what about value capture and passing the benefit of when a rural property becomes into residential-zoned land and that value shifts what about sharing some of that with first-home buyers or the housing market? That would be a great idea. What about housing growth that would provide enough residential-zoned land for the next 30 years? That would help housing affordability. What about allowing overseas investment to help our infrastructure deficit? That will unlock infrastructure and housing. Well here's a good idea: what about the infrastructure funding and financing legislation?Hon Grant Robertson: Point of order Madam Speaker. I know the member has tried hard by starting each sentence by saying "Did the Productivity Commission do X?" That however doesn't make it relevant to the bill. I could see by the look on your face Madam Speaker that you were feeling the same way as I was about that.DEPUTY SPEAKER: I'll be responsible for the look on my face thank you. Look the member was building the picture around other ways to do productivity as the reason for removing the bill. So as long as the member keeps coming back to the bill my face will be fine.RYAN HAMILTON: Thank you Madam Speaker. Just going back to the New Zealand Productivity Commission Act Repeal Bill the infrastructure funding and financing legislation—the IFF—has been in place for some time and yet the previous Government has done nothing with it. We can't wait to unlock the infrastructure funding and financing that will undergird the housing and help productivity across New Zealand.Let me finish with three good reasons why this is a good bill and I will be recommending it to the House. The coalition Government has started to work on the quality of regulation and on reducing Government spending and wastage as part of our 100-day plan. This includes identifying a preferred approach to the establishment of a new regulation agency and we'll be using the money that's currently tied up in that Productivity Commission. So it's using existing resources not bringing new money to the table.Two part of the new ministry's role will be to engage in a sector review that will identify the source of red tape that is contributing to poor productivity across New Zealand and Aotearoa and propose omnibus legislation that will amend such statutes and repeal regulations. This will ensure the ministry has the tools to reduce red tape—tools that the Productivity Commission doesn't have.I know thirdly and finally that the residents of Hamilton East will be looking forward to better productivity—for example a more efficient and productive roading network such as Southern Links. I highly commend this bill to the House."