Robertson GrantGENERAL DEBATEHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): I move That the House take note of miscellaneous business.This Government is delivering an economic plan that is benefiting all New Zealanders. As the Deputy Prime Minister said the trifecta is in: a $5.5 billion surplus has been delivered; we have growth rates approaching 3 percent on average; and today we have the release of the household labour force survey that shows New Zealand having its lowest unemployment rate in a decade of 3.9 percent—3.9 percent. That is built off the hard work of thousands of New Zealanders every day building our economy and what that is delivering is not just the lowest unemployment rate in a decade; it's also filtering through to many parts of the workforce who over the last few years have been struggling. For example we now have youth NEET rates—those not in employment education or training—down again to 10.1 percent. That is down from 10.9 percent last quarter and 11.3 percent a year ago.But it gets better because the NEET rate for women has fallen to 10.1 percent—the lowest since records began in this survey. I know the Hon Willie Jackson is not a man to blow his own trumpet—well actually he's doing it right now at Rātana—but I want to credit the programmes such as Mana in Mahi and He Poutama Rangatahi which Minister Jackson is overseeing. I also want to credit Carmel Sepuloni for the work on the industry partnership with MSD that is practically getting young people into work and into training on the job.This Government can be proud of its economic record. We have put in place the Families Package that's put money into the pockets of low and middle income New Zealanders and we have made sure that the focus is on investing in jobs and in employment. Wages are growing. People are getting into work. This is the real data of the economy. This is the real story of the economy and I just wish the Opposition would cheer up. I just wish that the Opposition would say Actually the economy is doing well." and celebrate that story. But I can understand it because I do have one concern about unemployment: Simon Bridges because he is well on his way to becoming unemployed over that side of the House. I know that when Simon Bridges heard the words 3.9 percent his heart sank. He thought it was the preferred Prime Minister rating for this month for him and the National Party. But on this occasion it's a good number—3.9 percent is a good number.He is however I know—or I am—very pleased I would say about the under-utilisation rate. This is the idea that more people are getting into work—the people who want more hours. Simon Bridges however was worried about the utilisation rate: the under-utilisation rate of Judith Collins. Because if she's under-utilised we all know what's going to happen on the other side of the House.But I can say that with the polls going the way they are unemployment is definitely a problem over there. I'd say that whole segment there—out. Gone. Gone for good. I did notice that Nicky Wagner was wearing a name-tag when she came into the House today; probably good practice for Nicky Wagner for the future. All of that lot out. Maureen Pugh is at the bottom of the National Party list but on this side of the House we're with Maureen Pugh's mum. We're with her mum saying "Maureen you shouldn't go." but the list will move just a little bit further down the aisle here at the rate National's going.But actually in the end I say to the National Party: keep talking the economy down. Keeping doing it because every time they do it gets better—every time they do it gets better. Here is a tweet from the Hon Simon Bridges from just a couple of months ago. Simon Bridges says "It's started. Unemployment's up. Is anyone seriously going to debate that this isn't because of the Arden-Peters Government's policies? It's time they acknowledge their responsibility and make serious changes for New Zealanders' sake." There is only one serious change that's required and it's Simon Bridges getting out of that seat over there.On this side of the House we are proud of the fact that more New Zealanders are in work that unemployment's going down that youth unemployment is going down that wages are lifting. That is the sign of an economy that's working. That is the sign of the fact that this Government has a plan for the economy to benefit all New Zealanders. This coalition Government is on a roll."