Lotu-Iiga Peseta Sam: Taxation (Annual Rates and Budget Measures) Bill — In Committee Third Reading 
Lotu-Iiga Peseta Sam: Taxation (Annual Rates and Budget Measures) Bill — In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:672;Page:18974] 
PESETA SAM LOTU-IIGA (National—Maungakiekie) 
: 
 It is a real privilege to speak on Part 2 of the Taxation (Annual Rates and Budget Measures) Bill. We have heard this morning from a number of contributors across the aisle. We have heard the type of negativity that pervades the Labour Party at the moment. We have heard speeches that have not set out any vision for this country but speeches that appeal to the rabid left—anarchists communists socialists and the lazy. 
This Budget has confirmed the competent management that Bill English has displayed in the 2½ years since National took power. We know that the Budget is about setting a credible path to a surplus and helping to lift national savings. We have heard about the changes to KiwiSaver and how they will increase private savings through contributions that are we might add from employers and employees. What has not been mentioned by members opposite has been the context in which we find ourselves in May 2011. When we took power 2½ years ago there was a global economic recession. It has bitten many countries. 
We heard from the Leader of the Opposition yesterday that this recession is over. Yet we look at countries like the United Kingdom that are going through massive changes and upheaval to their social services and their budgets and we see that this Government has taken a very firm but very fair and balanced approach to our Budget. Although we hear complaints about the types of policies that aim at the fringes what we really have is a Government committed to boosting investment in our health and education services. That is something we will not resile from. 
We have heard questioning regarding facts. The Opposition continues to advocate taxation of revenue and sales it advocates increasing taxes on high-income earners and it seems to be focused on those who earn $1 million but it has not presented any of the facts. The facts are that in the year to March 2009 only 597 people earned over $1 million—597. Labour members stand here whining and moaning about 597 people who earn over $1 million a year. Of those people only 120 are salary and wage earners—120. There is all that energy over 120 people. 
What Labour members do not realise is that there are people who earn high incomes who provide jobs and provide opportunities. Those people are entrepreneurs who are investing in productive assets. Yes it is about investing in the productive assets that will earn the export dollars that will push this economy forward. We have not heard anything from that party opposite which governed during the best years of our economy yet exports decreased for 5 consecutive years. We have not heard anyone from that party come up with any answers as to why that happened. 
Grant Robertson 
: Because it didn’t. 
PESETA SAM LOTU-IIGA 
: It did happen. The biggest business in town under the Labour Government was Government services—sad but true. Mr Hodgson who spoke earlier this morning asked where the innovation is. I am a little bit disappointed in Mr Hodgson because when he was the Minister for Economic Development he was the biggest cheerleader for exporters for productive businesses and for innovators. Now he sits there and asks where the innovation is. I will tell members where it is. If any member opposite wants to see innovation I ask them to come to Maungakiekie to visit some of the success stories. I ask them to please come and visit Rakon and Compac Sorting Equipment—businesses that are growing into export markets. Grant Robertson would not know that because the biggest business in his electorate is what? It is Government services. That is right it is Government services. When we went to the innovation awards with Mr Hodgson what did we see? We saw the best in innovation from New Zealanders. We saw Phil Keoghan of the creative industries. We saw Bruce Farr of Farr Yacht Design. We saw diabetes researchers. 
Members opposite sit there and ask where the innovation is. I tell them it is out there. I encourage them to leave their electorate offices visit some businesses and see what makes this economy really grow see the people who hire others and see where the jobs are. I encourage members opposite to get their facts straight and stop advocating taxing overseas trips stop advocating the taxing of sales of businesses stop advocating a capital gains tax and actually present something with a vision. Thank you.