Parata Hekia: General DebateText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeParata Hekia: General Debate[Sitting date: 11 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:7896. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon HEKIA PARATA (Minister of Education):Mr Speaker tēnā koe o te rā; tēnā tātou o Te Whare nei. It is a privilege and honour to stand on behalf of the Government 7 years into our Government led by a Prime Minister of exceptional character and leadership. Seven years ago when we came into Government we were shortly to become acutely aware of the global financial crisis and 2 to 3 years later of the Christchurch earthquakes. And here we are 7 years later the first Government in 43 years to provide benefits to families living in hardship.Although the Opposition has a currency of personal attacks this Government is focused on the issues that matter. Whether it is investing in raising the benefits for those families in hardship or establishing the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary and all of the policy achievements in between this Government stands proudly on its track record. We have put children and their families squarely at the centre of all of our policies. We have turned the books around. We have returned—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! The level of the interjection now is too loud. It must quieten down for the general debate.Hon HEKIA PARATA: I can assure—Sue Moroney: She’s got to stop telling lies—Hon HEKIA PARATA: —the House that contrary to Sue Moroney’s accusation that I am telling lies we have an evidenced track record of making a difference. We have—[Interruption] Mr Speaker is there any possibility I could give my speech rather than Sue Moroney? We have returned the books to surplus. We have a strong economy—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member will now resume her seat. I have now given a specific warning to Sue Moroney that the level of interjection is too loud. It is a general debate it is a robust debate and I expect some interjection but the level of noise—and she is not the only member there is another one sitting to her immediate right who has now got the same bad habit developing. I do not want to see—[Interruption]. Order! I do not want to see any more members having to leave the Chamber this particular afternoon but if it continues at the sort of level that it creates disorder it is not fair on the member delivering a speech and my only recourse will be to ask a member to leave.Hon HEKIA PARATA: We have delivered across-the-board tax cuts as part of the biggest tax reform in 25 years. We have increased benefit rates as I have already talked about. We have increased paid parental leave. We have made doctors visits free for under-13-year-olds. We have made breakfasts free in every school that wants or needs them. We have done real compassionate practical deliveries for the kids and families who matter and we are proud of our record.Moreover I belong to a caucus and a Cabinet that is absolutely full of ideas for the future. We have got 7 years behind us. We know what makes the difference and so do New Zealanders. They want an economy that works for them. They want to be able to get jobs which we are increasing. How? Because we are investing in skills. We are focused on regional economies. We are focused on the overall economy. Mortgage rates are the lowest they have ever been. People want to be able to get into homes. They want to be able to bring up their families. They do not want to be told how to do it by the Opposition. We understand that so we are focused on how do we create an environment where opportunity and choice are the closest travelling companions of New Zealanders and I am proud to be part of a Government that does all of that.As the Minister of Education we have seen more children participating in quality early childhood education than ever before.Sue Moroney: There’s no quality—not quality.Hon HEKIA PARATA: It is quality. For every dollar the parent pays the Government pays $4.38. It is far more than ever happened under that Government. We have got more kids participating more kids getting National Certificate of Educational Achievement level 2 which is the minimum qualification—Sue Moroney: Lower quality.Hon HEKIA PARATA: I am sorry Mr Speaker. It defies intelligence that you can look at evidence and still argue the opposite. But it would appear that that is the problem with the Opposition. The evidence is clear. We are part of an effective 7-year-old Government and we are here to do more. We are fresh. We are energetic. We are alive to the possibilities. This is a small smart sassy nation and it deserves the kind of leadership that we want to give it. So I am proud very proud—very proud—to be a part of the John Key - led National-led Government of New Zealand.