Eagle Paul; Tolley AnnePAUL EAGLE (Labour—Rongotai): Thank you Madam Chair for allowing me to take this call—the first from the Government. It's a real privilege to be able to do this on behalf of the coalition Government. Can I just acknowledge the members of the Economic Development Science and Innovation Committee for their hard work. We spent every single minute with our ministerial colleagues taking them through their paces. I don't know whether to applaud the chair or not. There were certainly times when the theatrics were on full display but none the less it was an admirable attempt by the Opposition members on the select committee to do their job and to have their say.I want to just also cover the areas that the appropriations outline or express and that's economic development itself. Can I just applaud this Government's vision for a productive sustainable and inclusive economy. It also included energy and resources and the Minister for that portfolio certainly gave a robust and convincing display when questioned.I also want to quickly I guess rebut or just give another side to the Minister for Infrastructure and for Regional Economic Development. We've heard from one of the select committee members Paul Goldsmith about his view on what went on and can I just say that there was no deliberate trickiness in the Minister's answering of questions—rather a fulsome high-vis approach to the questions that were asked. And those will remember unfortunately the Minister had somehow borrowed a high-vis jacket of a train driver called Shane and came to the appropriations wearing it. But it was a high-vis performance as such because when I had the privilege of talking to mayors and those working in economic development agencies last week at the Local Government New Zealand conference there was nothing but praise for the fund. In fact they offered to—and I haven't talked to the Minister yet—help in the probity issues and to distribute the funding more quickly and better in terms of the local processes that they have in place. So that offer is there.I guess there is no question in my mind about probity issues; rather it is that this fund is so popular that the regions are gearing up and you know we don't want to take the first cab off the rank for applications. Rather there is a criterion there and it's really important to deliver and respond to any probity issues so that the process is thorough. The officials have taken into account that those projects meet criteria hence the delay. I think the Minister gave a very serious presentation about what was happening in the Provincial Growth Fund. Look probably to just complete the statement made that it was possibly to socialise losses and privatise gains" that is something that this Government has been well aware of for the previous nine years to say "Look let's hope that it's anything but." and I think our track record will speak for itself.The rest of the committee—certainly we covered research science and innovation and tourism. Look despite what you may have seen I think the team from the coalition Government did an outstanding job.I want to just reflect back to the vision for economic development. I know that when you look at what the vision looks like it's about an improved quality of life and I know that no one will argue with that. Better standards of living—no one will argue with that. But this vision is about setting the pathway for a 30-year journey. I think the Ministers certainly outlined their contributions to those visions admirably and put those in place and I think you will see some great work ahead.DEPUTY SPEAKER: I just remind members not to bring the Chair into the debate."