Foster-Bell Paul: Budget DebateText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeFoster-Bell Paul: Budget Debate[Sitting date: 21 May 2014. Volume:699;Page:18226. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]PAUL FOSTER-BELL (National): I would like to thank my distinguished colleague from the Coromandel Scott Simpson for yielding in this split call. It is an enormous pleasure an honour and a privilege to rise and speak in favour of this Government’s sixth Budget delivered by our very prudent Minister of Finance the Hon Bill English. When looking through the departmental estimates it is fantastic to see such a large amount of investment going into the things that really matter to NewZealand and the areas that make a real difference in people’s lives—not just the pet projects and reckless expenditure that the side opposite seems to prefer.I have been knocking on doors in the Wellington Central electorate over the last weekend and I have to say that the feedback on this Budget has been overwhelmingly positive. The $500 million package for children and families in particular has been popular among the voters in Wellington. That is expanding the eligibility and duration for paid parental leave adding to the parental tax credit and giving further access to early childhood education. The free doctors visits and free prescriptions for children under the age of 13 especially have been extremely popular.Another area of investment that is of direct relevance to the good people of the capital is the Government’s support of the film-making industry. The newly restructuredScreen Production Grant offers an incentive of a 30 percent grant to attract international productions with an additional 5 percent available for productions that offer significant economic benefits. A 40 percent grant is available for local New Zealand productions and the range of productions that now qualify for this grant has been considerably expanded. This has been very well received also.Gisella Carr the Chief Executive of Film New Zealand said that “the increased incentive is very welcome as is the Government’s recognition that attracting film and television production into New Zealand has significant wider benefits for New Zealand including most recently in our tourism sector.” With three moreAvatar films to be fully realised in Wellington pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy I think the proof is in the pudding with this particular policy.We have also heard that business owners are breathing a sigh of relief that the Government has remained prudent in this Budget. The Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive RaewynBleakley has said that a “restrained Budget is exactly what this country needs to cement-in the economic gains of the past few years”. She went on to comment that the Budget does not appear to be a “vote-winning lolly scramble”. That is a very positive thing and it will build on the platform of a return to strong and sustainable growth adding that “The prospect of more jobs higher wages and even tax cuts further down the track will be welcomed across the economy.” Also the managing director ofXero a fine Wellington-based firm said that the initiatives in the Budget that have specifically delivered for business were most welcome outlining the research and development tax credits and the hand back of considerable ACC levies—half a billion dollars’ worth—as most welcome initiatives.To me it is also good news that this Government’s sensible management of the economy has given the private sector the confidence to go forward and make sensible investment decisions and I for one especially welcome the news this week that we have heard a 2500 - seating capacity convention centre and a 5-star hotel are being considered for Wellington by private entrepreneurs and investors. This is something that will happen only when a Government provides an environment conducive to the private sector taking these opportunities and risks.I also welcome the investment this Budget makes in boosting trade supporting exporters defending the realm and helping our Pacific neighbours with their aid programmes. Today we heard in media reports the Hon Shane Jones say that he has no regrets about leaving an incompetent and debilitated muddle that is today’s Labour Party and coming over here to join the Government waka. There was nothing in the Hon Shane Jones’ very eloquent valedictory speech that suggested that that is anything but the truth. I want to say to the Hon Shane Jones as someone who left the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to enter Parliament to someone who is making the journey in the opposite direction: “Welcome aboardJonesy.” I am sure the member will find this waka to be more seaworthy to be a lot quicker across the water and to have a muchmore competent captain and with nowhere as many drips and leaks as his former vessel.We on this side of the House look forward to working with the most talented and sensible member of the Opposition.Tākina te hoe kia rite—let us wield the paddles together. In doing so let us achieve great things for economic development at home and in our wider region. I absolutely unreservedly commend this Budget to the House and to the people of New Zealand.