Pillay Lynne: Budget Debate 
Pillay Lynne: Budget Debate 
[Volume:647;Page:16555] 
LYNNE PILLAY (Labour—Waitakere) 
: 
 I am very proud to stand and speak in support of this Budget. Why? Because it is about growth services delivery to Kiwis—to families and to older citizens—and a moderate affordable tax cut for all that gives relief up front and is phased in so that it does not cause undue stress on our economy and push up interest rates. This economy is geared up to face global uncertainty and that is what we are facing. We know that the worldwide increases in food fuel and mortgage rates are hitting New Zealanders. We know that as do all countries—although we are much better off than we were under those dark dark years of a National Government in the 1990s. Although we know we are much better off than that we do know— 
Nathan Guy 
: Spend and waste. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: I ask the member to tell me how many people John Key has in his office. Is it 10? 
Tim Groser 
: A tenth of the number in the Prime Minister’s office I would say 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: Mr Groser says it is 10. Do we have a rise on 10? Labour members say it is 15. Do we hear another rise from the other side of the House? 
Hon Member 
: 30. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: We are nearly there. 
Dail Jones 
: 37. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: It is 37. I say thank you to Dail Jones. I would never disagree with Dail Jones in this House. He gets it wrong sometimes on things like the Waitakere Ranges legislation but by hokey he is good on detail. He says that John Key has 37 bureaucrats in his office who teach him how to be slippery and how to make sure he does not tell New Zealanders anything. I will ask those cheeky people over there what they have to say to that. Does John Key have 37 people in his office? We do not hear anything. 
I congratulate Michael Cullen. He has managed our economy over 8 years and delivered cheaper doctors’ visits and prescription charges interest-free loans for students Modern Apprenticeships 20 free hours’ early childhood education huge tax relief for families tax relief for business support for business innovation KiwiSaver more police officers on our streets income-related rents 4-weeks’ holiday increases in the minimum wage and investment in public transport. It is beyond belief. It is 1000 times more than what the former National Government invested in public transport. We have also bought back rail. Labour has raised superannuation but National cut it. All of these great policies that I have reeled off were opposed by the National Party. 
Let us look at how these tax cuts deliver—and I must say without borrowing and putting pressure on our economy. From 1 October a couple on superannuation will receive an additional $45.88 a week—almost $46—and pay 26 percent less tax. But wait; there is more. They will still get the rates that will apply when they rise again in 2009. We can expect around— 
Nathan Guy 
: Why has it taken 9 years? 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: I will tell that member why it has taken 9 years. It is because Labour had to build up from the cuts that National put on to superannuitants in this country. But that build up means that by 1 April 2009 a couple receiving superannuation will probably be $75.32 a fortnight better off. That is what happens under a Labour-led Government. The same happens for working families and for low-paid families. They have benefited hugely through Working for Families and through the increases to the minimum wage. The minimum wage was languishing at $7 an hour when we came into Government but it is now $12 an hour. That is what happens under a Labour Government. 
New Zealanders have also had the benefit of all the things I spoke of previously such as health education more job opportunities through Modern Apprenticeships interest-free loans etc. I am really proud of what this Government has delivered. What other big-ticket items are in this Budget for New Zealanders? There is a world-class broadband network. There is a huge investment in public transport and also in science and research. There is money to upskill our workforce for building sustainable homes and communities and for promoting our arts and culture. There is also a huge investment in health. The Minister of Health my good friend David Cunliffe is sitting here. He is a great guy. There is $750 million a year over 3 years going into health. That is over $2 billion going into health in this country. We know that under this Government job numbers are growing by 1000 a week. There are 1000 new jobs a week under the Labour Government. 
Now I will take a little bit of time to pause and pay tribute to Kate Wilkinson. Kate Wilkinson had the courage to tell it how it was. Of course National is not the party of compulsion. National opposed the employer contributions so she told it how it was. 
Hon David Cunliffe 
: She told the truth. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: She told the truth. She was not slippery. She has not been in with the 37 bureaucrats being taught how to be slippery like John Key. She just knows how to be straight up and honest—she told it how it was. It was just like the time when Tony Ryall—another honest member—told it how it was. I notice that the Opposition members are very quiet now. Tony Ryall said: “We will lift the cap on GP fees.” We know what that means. Good old Jonathan Coleman has been on the case looking after general practitioners and making sure that they get all the subsidies from the Government and as well as that saying that they can invest and make a heap more because National will get rid of the cap. What happened? John Key was on the case again. His 37 bureaucrats said: “Quickly John get in there. Tell them that Tony Ryall who’s had far more experience than you and who is actually telling the truth has got it wrong.” I should be careful not to say John Ryall. John Ryall works for the Service and Food Workers Union and he is a very hard-working man. Tony Ryall got it wrong according to John Key. Whoops! That was wrong again and there was a quick pulling back from that position. I will tell members something: I do not believe John Key’s statements. Do other members believe them? I do not believe them. 
Hon David Cunliffe 
: Pick a spin doctor. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: Exactly. It is a case of: “Where do we go? Where is the public opinion? What do we say? Don’t say anything; we can’t tell fibs. We can’t be caught. Just be slippery; don’t say it how it is.” 
I tell members that last week Michael Cullen was my politician of the week. 
Hon David Cunliffe 
: He was the country’s politician of the week. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: He was the country’s politician of the week. But this week my politician of the week is Kate Wilkinson. 
Hon David Cunliffe 
: “Careful Kate”. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: “Careful Kate”; “Honest Kate”; “Kate who tells it how it is.” I do not agree with Kate’s politics. Kate Wilkinson is on my select committee. Well she has substituted there for a while. Chris Auchinvole was not there and we missed him terribly. 
Hon David Cunliffe 
: Are they letting her on a select committee? 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: Well on mine yes and she has been incredibly helpful on that committee. She is straight up and tells it how it is as does Chester Borrows. He is another member who told the truth about KiwiSaver. So whilst I do not agree with Kate Wilkinson’s politics I admire her integrity and honesty. 
Hon David Cunliffe 
: She’s not slippery. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: No she is not a bob-each-way girl. 
Tim Barnett 
: She’s dry not slippery. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: That is right. She is dry but dry in a nice way. She is dry and honest and not slippery. She tells it how it is. We may call that naive but as far as I am concerned she shares one principle with the Labour Government and that is integrity. Well she shares two with the Government—honesty and integrity. 
It is probably time for me to start winding up and I just want— 
Nathan Guy 
: It is when you talk about integrity. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: It is. I challenge the next National speaker to tell us what National’s policy is—just one. That speaker will be Chris Auchinvole and I will put my faith in Chris. I will put my faith in the fact that he will tell us one thing that National believes in—just one—in an upfront way.