Sharma Gaurav; Salesa JennyDr GAURAV SHARMA (Labour—Hamilton West): Kia ora namaste and talofa Madam Speaker. It's a pleasure tonight to take a call on the Appropriation (2022/23 Estimates) Bill as part of the Budget debate dressed in this beautiful traditional dress of the Sherpa people of Nepal as we celebrate 69 years of mankind's greatest achievements: the conquering of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953. Thanks to members from across the political parties for joining me as I co-hosted the event today in Parliament earlier on with my colleague Vanushi Walters. But the celebrations haven't ended because thanks to this Labour Government and the finance Minister Grant Robertson we have a Budget because of which everyone has something to celebrate about.Two broad communities that I know will benefit from this Budget are the patients and the healthcare providers. When we talk about patients we are talking about every New Zealander in this country because at one point or other we've all been a consumer of the healthcare system. But the grand system is far from perfect; postcode lottery and inequitable health outcomes are just a few issues that the current system has resulted in. With the health reforms that are going to be rolled out on 1 July Kiwis can expect a more streamlined and less bureaucratic health system as district health boards are made obsolete and the greater focus is put on care—$11.1 billion for this. Thank you Andrew Little for your work and Grant Robertson for supporting it.But wait that's not it you've also got $191 million over the next two years for a funding boost for Pharmac which will ensure that more medicines will be available to Kiwis; medicines which in the past have not been available to people and their families as they've struggled through various conditions.But wait there's more: $126 million for improving access to dental care—dental care for people on low incomes. We have a very unusual system in this country; you can get a $1 million liver transplant but you can't get care for your teeth. While I understand that this doesn't address the full problem having $1000 for a person who is on low income makes a huge difference and this is three times more than when we came into Government at the start. So $1000 more for somebody who is on a low income to help with their dental care.As co-chair of Parliamentary Champions for Accessibility Legislation I'm also incredibly proud of the work that Ministers Carmel Sepuloni and Andrew Little have done in terms of bringing the Ministry for Disabled People which will be launched on 1 July. I know my colleague and co-chair on the other side Penny Simmonds who's sitting just there will join me in congratulating Grant Robertson for providing $943 million for this ministry. This Government is putting their money where their mouth is and that's in a new ministry which will give a big voice for our disabled communities. In the last few weeks since the Budget I've been out and about in Hamilton but also travelling to Auckland and Tauranga. I've talked to not only patient groups but talked to clinical researchers different colleges of medicine talked to pharmaceutical companies talked to patient groups and everyone has talked about the $191 million that's going into Pharmac and how big a difference it would make.But in addition to that we're also talking about the cost of living crisis for which the Government is putting in $1 billion—$1 billion which will help with a $350 payment to people earning less than $70000. Two-month extensions for fuel excise which we've had in the past and has made a huge difference to people who are using their cars for commuting—but if you're not using your cars for commuting then maybe you would like to use public transport which is now half the price for the next two months again.I would urge the member across from us Simeon Brown who has been talking a lot from the other side to please use one of these public transport systems and take the train down Te Huia down to Hamilton.Simeon Brown: I'd like to get on the light rail but it ain't been built! It's not gone anywhere. It's light fail"!Dr GAURAV SHARMA: Well I don't think the light rail was going to come into Hamilton anyway but that's not a bad idea—while we're looking at it we'll definitely consider. But while we have the Te Huia train I would really encourage the former spokesperson for transport of the National Party to come and join us in Hamilton through the Te Huia train.I've only got 10 seconds to go and I just want to congratulate once again the Minister of Finance for a wellbeing Budget that as I said before puts the money where the mouth is. Thank you very much.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa): This debate is interrupted and is set down for resumption next sitting day. The House stands adjourned until 2 p.m. tomorrow. Fa'afetai tele lava manuia le po.Debate interrupted.The House adjourned at 9.59 p.m."