Nash Stuart: General Debate 
Nash Stuart: General Debate 
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STUART NASH (Labour) 
: 
 We have just seen a Minister of the Crown the Hon David Carter stand up and say that the National Government is focused on growth. The only real plan the National Government has put forward is to sell State assets—it is to sell State assets. Is selling State assets a plan for growth? It absolutely is not whatsoever. 
The Minister said that National was focused on developing infrastructure. In Hawke’s Bay in Napier that Government took $71 million—$71 million—out of the roading budget that was earmarked for Hawke’s Bay. The provinces have gone backwards under that Government yet Government members have the nerve to stand up and say they are concentrating on infrastructure. I challenge the Minister to hold a public meeting in Napier and tell the people of Hawke’s Bay that the Government’s taking $71 million out of their budget is good for growth. 
Then the Minister said that the Government is concentrating on research and development. Labour put in research and development tax credits. The Minister of Revenue in this Government voted against removing the research and development tax credit. Treasury advised the Government not to remove the research and development tax credit yet the Government did. That is not a plan for growth. The Government removed the one vehicle that New Zealand companies grabbed hold of and embraced to drive forward growth in this country. 
As for taxes I will back up my colleague Clayton Cosgrove. The Government gave $1000 a week to people earning $1 million or more a year but it gave less than $10 a week to the average mum and dad “shareholder”. How the hell is a New Zealander on the median wage going to be able to afford to buy shares when the Government sells assets? Quite simply they will not be able to. 
Jonathan Young 
: KiwiSaver. 
STUART NASH 
: KiwiSaver! That is the answer. Who put KiwiSaver in place for New Zealanders? 
If there is one thing I have learnt about New Zealanders it is that they do not ask for much. They very rarely complain but what they really hate is the feeling that they are being ripped off that they are not being treated fairly or that they are being taken advantage of. New Zealanders hate that. So imagine how hard-working New Zealanders feel when they are told by John Key that he will sell assets they already own back to them. Hold on a second how does that work? He is going to sell us what we already own? That is not only a travesty but also a con. But it gets worse. John Key wants to sell assets that New Zealanders have built up over generations through blood sweat and their forebears’ taxes. 
But all is not lost. There is absolutely a solution: vote Labour. Phil Goff and the Labour Party have said that we will not sell State assets—no ifs no buts; there will be no State asset sales. This is not like when Mr Key stood up and said to the camera that National would not raise GST but then he did. Phil Goff has said that Labour will not sell State assets. It is a very clear choice—a very clear choice. The plan of John Key and the National Government is to sell State assets and to sell New Zealanders’ assets. The plan of the next Labour Government will be to not sell State assets. 
Let us be honest. We all know that if State assets are sold the shares will not be held by ma and pa investors. We all know that—come on let us be honest. The vast majority of these shares will go to overseas investors. They will be sold to foreigners. They will be sold to foreigners and the dividends will go offshore. The choice is very very clear. National will sell State assets; Labour will not sell State assets.