King Colin: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
King Colin: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
[Volume:660;Page:8982] 
COLIN KING (National—Kaikoura) 
: 
 It is a pleasure to stand and speak in support of the Prime Minister’s statement. I note what a difference a year makes. This time last year the richest countries in the world were virtually in meltdown banks were being bailed out and the Government was giving handouts and rescue packages to businesses which made the very eyes of the most financially literate water. Now 12 months on we see that the situation was the worst in 70 years. It has grown to a stage where we see a lot of the developed world very much still in the grips of a recession. However the Government held its nerve it managed its resources and it achieved an outstanding result. Through the whole experience one can only describe the performance of the Government as excellent. In actual fact it would be fair to say that even the Opposition would concede that. We are out of recession 12 months on and last week the Government delivered the next important steps for success on the road to prosperity. 
The Prime Minister’s statement demonstrates that this Government will back the individual to know how best to manage his or her resources educate his or her children and invest his or her savings. The wonderful thing about New Zealanders is that they are beginning to trust and have confidence in themselves again. This Prime Minister’s statement has gone a long way to further reinforce that. New Zealanders need to be taught again to believe in themselves along the lines that they can keep up with Australia that we are a nation of achievers and that we are winners. Provided we work together we will enjoy the fruits of success. 
I wish to concentrate on just three points within the Prime Minister’s statement. There are many many points covered there but time does not allow me to go over them and canvass them all. I will concentrate on science and innovation unlocking this nation’s resources and potential and a growth-enhancing tax system. 
The Prime Minister’s statement has articulated the most efficient and effective manner of funding science and innovation. The Government is ready and able to fund good top-quality science and the Prime Minister’s statement addresses the challenges of getting more of our firms using science research and technology to deliver more valuable products and services. This will make New Zealand companies more successful and more competitive in our export markets. In turn it will create new jobs and better-paid jobs for all New Zealanders. This Government is determined to develop a public science system able to support such a dynamic economy. This year the Primary Growth Partnership will contribute $40 million and up to $70 million in future years which will be matched dollar for dollar by industry. In my mind there is no doubt that this will be the most appropriate model to follow. This model will produce quality science and research that no other country can aspire to. It will deliver value for money and it will also deliver the ground-breaking scientific discovery that such an inspirational Government attains to. 
New Zealanders can have confidence in this Government’s agenda. I refer to what has become known as the most progressive alliance to occur in modern scientific times within the context of climate change and that is the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases. It now involves 23 nations who will be meeting in New Zealand later on this year. We have high expectations of a very successful meeting when those nations come to New Zealand during 2010. Sadly the only dissenting voice in this whole debate around the alliance has been Labour member Charles Chauvel. This only further demonstrates how this Government is able to gain international traction and buy-in from other countries leading to scientific success and why the Opposition is so last century and out of touch with global thinking. 
If there is one thing this Opposition fails to grasp it is that if we want first-class health first-class education and first-class law and order we must have a first-class economy. The Prime Minister’s statement took us through a number of things that are very very positive and constructive. It told us that presently there are 10 separate work streams that are under way covering economic growth areas like infrastructure urban design and critical work on improving New Zealand’s freshwater management. The Prime Minister’s statement outlined how the Government will progress an action plan to further unlock New Zealand’s petroleum potential. Estimates are that the petroleum sector will generate many billions of dollars in the near future and with that many many jobs. There is also the extraordinary economic potential in the mineral estate residing in Crown-owned land. The Prime Minister’s statement also recommended that areas within Crown land from schedule 4 plus additional land that is not yet in schedule 4 be added for the purposes of harvesting some of the minerals within those areas. 
Within the speech the Prime Minister talked about the Government action to remove particular regulatory roadblocks and progress water storage in Canterbury. So I will take the opportunity to focus on that for a moment because it is one part of the debate that I feel has been overlooked somewhat. When this is achieved it will contribute enormously to the New Zealand economy. This project which is large in anyone’s terms is compared to having the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand every year; such is the contribution and potential of this project to the New Zealand economy. This major regional development will create thousands of jobs and contribute many hundreds of millions of dollars to the New Zealand economy annually. Entire communities in the east coast dry parts of the South Island are heartened that after many many years we have a Government that is prepared to take action and not one that will engage in endless meetings and talking. These communities are finally saying that we have a Government that will take action and by placing the environment at the forefront of all considerations will work towards prioritising a win-win situation for all stakeholders to the future prosperity of all New Zealand. 
We will now move on to the issue of a growth-enhancing tax system. This Government is not prepared to stand by and allow New Zealanders to miss out on a prosperous future by continuing to rely on a tax system that possesses inconsistencies and perverse consequences. We have a tax system that taxes labour and investments hard at a high rate yet we tax consumption at a very low rate. It is of no surprise then that we need to adjust this taxation system to ensure that we get better incentives going forward. The Government has a number of objectives to attain with these tax reforms. Clearly this country of ours needs a tax system that creates incentives for people to work hard improve their skills and get ahead. Most important and something that is always overlooked by the Opposition is that people learn to do that under their own steam. We need a tax system that encourages saving and one that boosts productivity. 
I have referred here to only three of many points brought out in the Prime Minister’s statement. I assure the Opposition that 2010 will be a year to remember for all the right reasons. So in conclusion it is with immense pride that I speak in support of the Prime Minister’s statement. It is appropriate it is a step change and it is the first step towards a brighter future for all New Zealanders.