Laban Luamanuvao Winnie: Budget Debate 
Laban Luamanuvao Winnie: Budget Debate 
[Volume:626;Page:20810] 
LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN (Labour—Mana) 
: 
 Kia ora talofa lava and warm Pacific greetings to all. Some commentators have said that Budget 2005 was a boring Budget and that no great shock or surprise was announced. We do not need surprises shocks or sensations when it comes to the management of New Zealand’s finances. We do not need to scare the horses or the financial markets. Steady safe predictable prudent and yes even a little boring is good. 
Budget 2005 continues the sound fiscal management that has been the hallmark of Michael Cullen’s capable stewardship of the economy and Helen Clark’s leadership of our Government. This Budget balances economic and social objectives—no surprises there. Fairness and equity are bedrock Labour principles and they are reflected in this Budget. Budget 2005 is based on economic and social policies that respect individuality and diversity and promote equality of opportunity and the right for all citizens to participate fully in the life of our nation. 
Labour’s policies are aimed at ensuring that all people are able to enjoy a fair share of our nation’s wealth. The top priority of our economic policies is growing a sustainable job-rich economy. In the last three Budget debates I spoke at length about the many successful businesses in Porirua City Mana and the Kapiti coast that have experienced a sustained period of economic growth and have benefited from this Government’s sound economic management. One example of such a business is Effuzi which has just scored a $1 million project to provide stadium seating for Jade Stadium. This Budget continues that steady economic growth in Mana and throughout New Zealand. 
Growth has remained broad-based and sustainable. The tax cuts for businesses announced in Budget 2005 will cost $1.42 billion. Around $720 million of that will be recycled from the carbon charge. This is a business-friendly Budget and this is a business-friendly Government. We see that the Government has an important role to play in the marketplace: encouraging and supporting New Zealand businesses using influence to open up markets and using diplomacy to negotiate fair and free trade agreements. 
Over the last months in my role as parliamentary private secretary to the Minister for Trade Negotiations I have been working with the private sector and New Zealand businesses to establish and develop the New Zealand Pacific Business Council. The council is now up and running. It is made up of people from the private sector who are keen to expand two-way trade with Pacific nations. There is tremendous potential for two-way trade in the Pacific and this Government is promoting trade with the Pacific and the importance of a win-win for all nations in our region. 
Last year I led a trade delegation to Fiji with Jim Sutton and then went on to Papua New Guinea and then Guam. Recently as part of Phil Goff’s Pacific trip I led another trade delegation to New Caledonia and French Polynesia. Both these missions returned to New Zealand with millions of dollars in orders. New Zealand does $1 billion of trade in goods and services with our Pacific neighbours. They are very important markets for us and we can only grow the potential for markets there. Of course beyond the Pacific we look forward to celebrating the benefits that the New Zealand - Thailand Closer Economic Partnership Agreement which Minister Sutton has recently negotiated will bring to our businesses and our economy. The Government is investing in trade and Budget 2005 continues that investment with a number of export initiatives: $31 million dollars over 4 years for international trade negotiations; $9 million to promote New Zealand as a tourist destination; and $3 million to promote relations with Asia. As well as export initiatives Budget 2005 provided $204 million for research science and technology $100 million over 3 years for land transport and another $10 million to build management and business capability bringing to around $250 million a year the Government’s investment in regional support. 
Economic growth is only part of the equation for Labour. Social policy is on the other side of the ledger. Income and social support should expand in Labour’s view only when there is the capacity to sustain them. Dr Cullen’s careful fiscal management has allowed Labour to deliver a Budget that allows more New Zealand families to share the benefits of economic growth. Over the next 4 years there will be $4000 million for Vote Health; $1430 million for education; $134 million to build more State houses; and $149 million to advance the social development agenda. This year’s Budget invests responsibly in the health education and the safety of the people of Mana and all New Zealanders. 
Our economy has done well under this Government enabling us all to benefit from improved public services. The record continues with new funding this year for health care early childhood education schools and the police. The health funding will rise by an unprecedented $4 billion over the next 4 years. This includes money to extend low-cost primary health care establish a Cancer Control Council offer free breast-screening for more women phase out asset testing for older people in rest homes pay nurses more and fund more hip and major joint operations. 
Investment in education is focused on improving quality from early childhood care to the tertiary sector. Childcare centres are getting more funding to pay for better qualified staff. Schools are being funded to employ more teachers increase their operating budgets and invest in new technology. New funding for higher education is targeted at better-quality teaching in vital subjects including science trades information technology technical subjects agriculture and horticulture. There is also more money for Modern Apprenticeships and industry training while tertiary students will benefit from new scholarships and changes to allowances. 
Increased funding for the police will ensure that the force has the resources necessary to keep on top of crime rates which are the lowest in decades. New money in the Budget will pay for an estimated 245 more police nationwide in the coming year. I am really proud of New Zealand’s police force. It does a great job. The Royal New Zealand Police College is in my electorate and I am impressed with the young and mature recruits I see about town. The police have a difficult job to do and I am sick of those who criticise the police to score cheap political points in election year. 
 Budget 2005 creates new opportunities for people to improve their financial security with the introduction of the KiwiSaver workplace savings scheme. This will help Kiwis to save for their retirement with a $1000 kick-start from our Government. People struggling to save for their first home will also be able to take advantage of KiwiSaver. Many will be helped with an extra contribution towards their deposit. 
While delivering better services the Government continues to take a responsible approach to public spending. Forecasts show that Budget surpluses will continue to cover the contributions to the New Zealand Superannuation Fund keep the national debt down and enable investment in essential infrastructure like roading. But we know we need to do more. When driving through Mana one sees the investment made in improving safety and reducing congestion on State Highway 1. Of course there is more to do but we are making progress. 
This is the story of Budget 2005: living within our means and making steady progress. There is more to do in the future. We cannot have it all today; we must build a sustainable economy for the future. Budget 2005 provides substantial tax relief for business and the changes made to personal income tax thresholds will protect people’s income against inflation. Altogether it is a balanced investment in the nation’s social and economic future. The Labour-led Budget continues our Kiwi values of maintaining a strong and credible fiscal stance being fair and inclusive and helping Kiwis build a stake in the country.