Dean Jacqui: Debate on Prime Minister’s StatementText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeDean Jacqui: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement[Sitting date: 12 February 2014. Volume:696;Page:15856. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]JACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki): New Zealand is a country that has huge potential. We have got extraordinary natural beauty. We have got water mostly where and when we need it. We have got a very strong base of agricultural production. We have got a proud history of people with a can-do attitude. We perform extremely well in the global community in science in sport and in culture. We rate highly with our strong and stable economic performance and have done so under this Government for the past 5 difficult years. The New Zealand economy continues to stand out amongst developed countries growing by at least 3.5 percent in the last year with Treasury forecasts showing growth to be at a similar rate in 2014. This recovery and growth has not been by accident nor can it be put down to luck nor can it be put down to improving and variable global fortunes. It is because this Government is continuing to implement its plan to build a faster-growing economy with more jobs and also to support New Zealand families and all New Zealanders.Over the past 5 years we have not wavered from our four key priorities. Firstly we are responsibly managing the Government’s finances just like New Zealanders expect us to do. Secondly we are building a more productive and a more competitive economy because that is what is creating more jobs and increasing wages. It is the economy that creates jobs not Governments. That is something that I believe Labour does not quite get yet.Thirdly we are delivering better public services within tight budgets because it is taxpayers’ money that we are spending and people are entitled to know that we respect every dollar of it. Fourthly we are supporting the rebuilding of Christchurch because we pledged on day one that we would stand with the city and we are. I well remember former mayor Bob Parker saying: “Don’t forget us.” Well we have not. The economy is growing. More jobs are being created. Family incomes are rising. Crime is falling. More elective surgery is being done in public hospitals. Long-term welfare dependency is falling and we are continuing to help families and older New Zealanders with generous income support.You know I have sat through much of the debate on the Prime Minister’s statement and I see some stark differences across the House. The John Key - led Government enters election year focused on the issues that matter to all of us: a stronger economy more jobs better front-line health services and education a safer New Zealand and rebuilding Christchurch. Across the House it is interesting. I have seen anger from a pretty rudderless Opposition whose members are quickly reverting to their tax and spend policies and who just know in their heart of hearts that an election year lolly scramble is not going to cut it with the New Zealand public. I reckon that they are angry with themselves and I reckon that they are angry with their leadership. They arethinking: “OK so we are in an election year. Is this really the best we can do?”. I think it cannot be a very good place to be.Labour’s last time in Government increased the deficit increased interest costs and put the economy into recession. Deep down what Labour knows is that it does not have an answer because all the economic and social indicators are heading in an upwards direction. You know it is impossible for Labour and the Greens to talk the country down. They try goodness knows they try when all the facts around the economy say it is growing. More jobs are being created. Family income is rising. Crime is falling. We have increased the number of elective surgeries. We have reduced waiting times for cancer treatments. Long-term welfare dependency is falling.Ruth Dyson stood up in the House last night all angry faced and said: “National has done nothing for the environment.” Really? Let us just take a look at our record. We have tackled the issue of water quality. Where the Greens and Labour ran a mile in the last term of their Government with their water plan of inaction—their term not ours—our Land and Water Forum is providing collaborative solutions to some pretty testing situations. Our emissions trading scheme settings provide the Government with flexibility to balance our fair contribution to global climate change efforts against the costs imposed on New Zealand’s households and on business. We passed the exclusive economic zone protections where there were absolutely none under the previous Labour Government and it was quite happy with that state of affairs. We continued to develop marine reserves. We have invested more research and rehabilitation on our worst-polluted water bodies than the Green-Labour Government ever—ever—did. And our Resource Management Act reform programme has set about simplifying and streamlining the Resource Management Act processes providing stronger central government direction and stronger environmental reporting. Where was Labour in that space? Nowhere.Phil Goff got so angry about some kiosks being closed in Mount Roskill. Well we want our cops out on the street not sitting behind desks. We are a Government that has overseen recorded crime per person down to the lowest level in 33 years. We are a Government that has set a target to reduce overall crime rates by 15 percent—Hon Trevor Mallard: We’ve heard this speech before. Jonathan Young gave it.JACQUI DEAN: —the statistics do not lie Mr Mallard—violent crime by 20 percent and by the way thank you for noticing and youth crime by 25 percent by 2017. And we are already exceeding those targets. We are a Government that has 600 extra police on the front line and 34 neighbourhood policing teams not sat behind desks in kiosks but out there in the most troubled neighbourhoods tackling the causes of crime. We have provided Tasers rolled out smartphones and tablets provided lock boxes for firearms and a Prevention First strategy that is working. We have clamped down on gangs organised crime and P.Our trade training numeracy and literacy and Out of Gate strategies are supporting prisoners before they leave prison and immediately after. We want to give every prison inmate the opportunity to turn their lives round and we have released a new Youth Crime Action Plan which aims to reduce youth offending over the next 10 years. It is one of the most critical aspects of our justice programme. National is completely focused on making our communities even safer and that is thanks to our justice team.Then Phil Twyford got up and got all angry about local government. Well let us have a look at our record. We have unified Auckland by establishing one council for the whole region substantially reducing red tape and bureaucracy. We have allocated $1 billion to repairs on leaky buildings so that homeowners can get on with their lives. That was in the too-hard basket for the previous Government. We have provided $5.5 billion to support Canterbury’s local councils to rebuild. We have focused on localgovernment on supporting economic growth and job creation. And we have implemented our Better Local Government reforms to focus councils on stronger governance improved efficiency and responsible management. We have made progress on Better Local Government reforms.Meka Whaitiri questioned the wisdom of water storage and the building of new dams. Well she is a new member. We know that Labour hates farmers and there is another member who continues in that sorry tradition. But how about these facts? The Ōpuha Dam in South Canterbury irrigates 16000 hectares and in a 2-year study the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment found that the dam added an impressive $124 million to the South Canterbury economy every year and added 500 full-time jobs. That is regional development. That is regional development based on agriculture. Meka Whaitiri also questioned the impact of cycle trails. She is not the first; she probably will not be the last. They just do not get it. Well let me tell you that one of the first cycle trails the Otago Central Rail Trail puts over $8 million and 96 extra full-time jobs into the local economy and that is in rural New Zealand.Despite the improvements in the Government’s books the better economic outlook and the focus on better public services there will not be a big lolly scramble from National in election year. National will continue our steady as you go approach—that is about getting better public services to deliver better results for communities getting debt under control and ensuring we can weather uncertain global economic conditions. This Government will have fresh ideas to put to New Zealanders across a range of areas this year. Labour and the Greens will promise the earth of course. We are only in February and they are already promising to spend the thick end of an extra three-quarters of a billion dollars this year. We are not going to do that. I am proud to support the Prime Minister’s statement.