2. Regional Economic Development—Tourism and InfrastructureRON MARK (Deputy Leader—NZ First) to the Prime MinisterRegional Economic Development—Tourism and Infrastructure2. RON MARK (Deputy Leader—NZ First) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister): Yes.Ron Mark: Does he stand by his statement that every region of New Zealand is crucial to our growth and progress"?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Yes in the context I made it.Ron Mark: Why has the Government then given only $12 million over 4 years to councils for tourism infrastructure such as public toilets when the Government took $630 million net surplus from GST on international visitor spending?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I think the member is wrong; the number is higher than that for GST. The Government has been investing very heavily in the tourism sector. It is one of the reasons why it is such an important part of the economy and we saw 3.3 million international tourists come to New Zealand. What the Government is doing is—for the first time—providing that sort of support for councils. They are free to put in an application and I think from the feedback that I have been getting both as Prime Minister and as Minister of Tourism a lot of them are going to do that and be grateful. But to argue that that is the only thing that we are doing in terms of supporting tourists is a bit farcical. It includes the $140 million - odd every year we put into marketing. It includes the work we have done around black spots for mobile phones ultra-fast broadband and tourist facilities.Ron Mark: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I specifically quoted the figure $12 million over 4 years to councils in respect of tourism infrastructure—Mr SPEAKER: Order! Can I have the point of order please.Ron Mark: My question is that he has not answered—I ask you to ask the Prime Minister to answer the question.Mr SPEAKER: Order! No there is absolutely no doubt that the answer addressed the question that was asked.Ron Mark: Why is Westpac the Government's bank when it is not prepared to be the people's bank in places like Ranfurly Fairlie Carterton and suburbs like Greerton in Tauranga?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: The Government's bank is the Reserve Bank—insomuch as we own it—or Kiwibank. Westpac is not the Government's bank. We might bank with it but we do not own it. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! That is an example of the disorder that is created if the member leads in with something before he asks a supplementary question.Ron Mark: If the regions are crucial to the Government why are Nelson residents frustrated and waiting for a viable solution to the Southern Link; and what is the Government doing to revitalise the Buller district which has lost more than 1000 jobs in the last few years?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: The member would really need to ask the Minister for Economic Development to get the full regional plan for those particular areas but rest assured there is one. He has been actively engaged with those communities. Actually from memory—I may be proven wrong—I think it was the Mayor of Buller actually who was very very supportive of the programme that was rolled out. Yes there have been some issues in relation to mining but to argue that the Government is responsible for that given the downturn in commodity prices is a novel one. If the member thinks he has got an answer to it he should probably go and ring Malcolm Turnbull because they happen to be having a few problems in Australia in relation to mining."