SpeechAGNES LOHENI (National): Thank you Mr Speaker. A quick search of the news headlines surrounding the 2019 Budget earlier this year revealed an array of disparaging headlines ranging from groups like the Child Poverty Action Group to the unions—the very groups that would normally be supportive of this Labour Government. Perhaps the most stunning and hard-hitting headline ran: Government just doesn't get it."Here's what this Government doesn't get: it doesn't get that a tsunami of taxes hurts.Matt Doocey: That's right.AGNES LOHENI: That's right; it hurts families it hurts businesses and it affects our communities. And what an array of taxes we have. What a tsunami of taxes we have before us. Not only did this Labour Government cancel National's tax relief they introduced three fuel taxes. That's right—three. They introduced the regional fuel tax extended the brightline test ring-fenced losses on rental properties introduced the Amazon tax—I don't actually have time to carry on this list but the list is ongoing.I ran a small business in the manufacturing and retail sector for 17 years. It takes grit and determination and resilience to last five years let alone 17. At the same time I was a working mother raising five children and during this time as well I got myself a tertiary degree. And I came from humble beginnings. That has given me some insight into what is required; I do get it. All social delivery starts from your ability to generate resources that enable you to look after yourself to look after your family and to support the community you live in.A strong successful economy enables businesses to thrive and become successful. Strong thriving businesses employ mums and dads our kids our loved ones and enable them to attend to the wellbeing of those around them in their homes and in their communities. Wellbeing does not come from a distant Government; it comes from those that love you those that support you and those who are part of your community. The more we empower people to take charge of their own lives to shrug off the shackles of a burdensome Government and prosper the better off we all are and empowerment starts with the education of our children with housing for our families and with jobs where prosperity and opportunities come from. And what have we got instead?For 18 months this Government has run the country—if setting up hundreds of working groups is indeed running a country. This Labour Government has talked about wellbeing as though it is the first Government ever to consider it as an idea for a Budget. Well let's have a look at what their wellbeing has resulted in. Increased numbers of people have gone on to job seeker support—and we all know this number; it's been traversed in this House: 14000 extra people in the last year on the job seekers' benefit—an increase of people applying for hardship grants; an increase in the cost of living; more taxes. And what about business confidence? I've been up and down the country meeting businesses talking to small-business owners. These business owners are expressing sheer frustration at how they've been treated by this Government pitting business owners against employers. They feel that this Government doesn't care and doesn't want to listen as they lay more burdens on small businesses. They're struggling to find staff. They're unsure whether to invest further in their businesses. More compliance has been piled on. This Government's failure to progress much-needed roading infrastructure is literally choking business productivity. It affects productivity when you can't move your resources your stock your raw materials around the country.I met with a small-business owner recently Selina Rako from Libra Woodwork in East Tāmaki a small family business that makes custom furniture components. In the space of one year the delivery costs to get timber from one part of Auckland to the other side of Auckland where they are have gone up 114 percent. That is a big hit for a small business. I feel for these businesses. They are drowning in a tsunami of taxes and compliance. They are not feeling the love from this Government and I echo the statement that I made earlier: this Government just doesn't get it.The debate having concluded the motion lapsed."