Hayes Joanne: Debate on Prime Minister’s StatementText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeHayes Joanne: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement[Sitting date: 12 February 2015. Volume:703;Page:1565. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]JOANNE HAYES (National):Tēnā koe Mr Speaker. As this is my first call for the year I want to wish you a happy New Year. To all the members of the House and parliamentary staff a happy New Year to you too. I am so pleased to be back in the House. It beats running around after 1500 ewes trying to move them with a dog that will not listen.As I stand and reflect on the years since National became Government I am reminded of the challenges that this Government faced when first taking office in 2008. I am astounded—yes astounded—that the members opposite me can stand and take a crack at this Government over the way we have managed the financial situation of this country to date. What a cheek—what a cheek. In 2008—and I have said this in past speeches because the memories of the left seem to be a little bit wanting—Hon Louise Upston: More than a little.JOANNE HAYES: Yes more than that. Yes in 2008 this Government found the country’s coffers were bare. The breeze was blowing through from one side of the safe to the other and the country was in deficit a deficit that should not have been there especially when the left had been boasting of surpluses. Surpluses my foot—no evidence; it did not happen. We all know now so you are caught out the left. To members on the left I say: stop harping on about all the good old days. I can tell you now—Dr Megan Woods: The good old days when we were in Government.JOANNE HAYES: —it was an untruth Megan. It was an untruth. You fooled the country. Then of course while I am on a roll here what about the Labour leadership? A lot like the meteor last night: it builds up gathers rubbish burns out and fizzles out.So from bare coffers and a growing deficit this National-led Government took over. We took over just when the global financial crisis hit and there was the collapse of financial companies. We came with a plan and we were determined that we were going to be pushing it through. Then came our two major tragedies—the Christchurch earthquakes and the Pike River mine disaster. We needed support and we got it. Yes we got that support because we have the right plan with the right people and of course the right leader. This is a stable and proven Government that delivers on what we say. You will hear that many times from this side of the House because we do deliver on what we say. Essentially we are and will continue to be a can-do National-led Government and everybody knows it in partnership with the Māori Party United Future and ACT. We are here for all New Zealanders.As I turn to the year ahead one of the Government’s key policies is housing. How fortuitous is that? During the 2014 campaign I along with other candidates in the Christchurch East electorate was interviewed on a meet the candidates - style CTV programme. We were asked: “What keeps you up at night?”. My response was housing—housing in an electorate where a number of people and families either lost their homes or required repairs.During that time this Government opened its first social housing project in Aranui. With the sod turned and the first homes built and occupied the plan is to ensure more homes will be available through our social housing policy which has been launched and is well under way. Just the other week I was taken on tour of a Housing New Zealand social housing project in Christchurch East. I am happy to report that I am looking forward to seeing a number of housing projects completed before the year is out especially in Aranui.I cannot extol enough the virtues of this Government’s policies when it comes to housing and the rebuild of Christchurch especially Christchurch East. From increased housing comes employment; from employment comes growth; and from growth comes wealth—wealth that benefits everyone as the economy continues to grow. This National-led Government has a well-crafted financial plan with its sights set on making everything right in God’s own. This is something that I am sure the members on the left have no idea of or where to start. Really it is “TL TL GBL”—too little too late and goodbye to the left. Kia ora.