Parmar Parmjeet: Budget DebateText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeParmar Parmjeet: Budget Debate[Sitting date: 02 June 2016. Volume:714;Page:11652. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Dr PARMJEET PARMAR (National): Budget 2016 is a great Budget. Yes it is about 8 years since National came into office and no one can forget that. There are several reasons for that and one of these reasons is the Opposition—yes the Opposition—because every single time we announce a new significant and practical policy even on Budget day all those members do is count the number of years we have been in office as if counting the number of years is some kind of worthy counterargument. It truly is a testament to the hard work of this National Government that the Opposition does nothing else but just count the number of years we have been in Government.Year after year Budget after Budget election after election we have overcome challenges and it is because of this that the people of New Zealand have more and more confidence in this National Government and the confidence of the people of New Zealand in this National Government is more than ever before. We are one of those handful of countries that enjoy a very positive economic outlook and this is because of the leadership of the Rt Hon John Key.I want to congratulate our Minister of Finance the Hon Bill English on such an awesome eighth Budget. This Budget is focused on the economy. Our GDP growth is expected to grow by 2.8 percent over the next 5 years.Hon Member: How much?Dr PARMJEET PARMAR: By 2.8 percent over the next 5 years. In the past 3 years there were 200000 new jobs under this National Government and it is forecast that there will be 170000 new jobs by 2020. Over this period unemployment is expected to drop to 4.6 percent—yes all this in just about 8 years. And this is despite the global financial crisis the devastating Canterbury earthquakes and a series of finance company failures; 2016 is already proving to be a very productive year for families and businesses all around New Zealand.Budget 2016 is focused on all the important areas. Coming from a scientific background I am really delighted to see $411 million over 4 years for science and innovation. This includes the commercialisation of high-tech ideas that our New Zealand scientists develop. I am also really happy to see $97 million for health research funding. Coming from a health research and life sciences background I am really happy to see that commitment from our Government. Through the Health Research Council of New Zealand the funding is going up by 56 percent from $77 million in 2015-16 to $120 million in 2019-20. This shows that we are really committed to our health research sector.I am the National list member of Parliament based in Mt Roskill. In Mt Roskill social housing and emergency housing are important issues. I am really delighted to see $258 million put towards that which includes 750 additional social housing places and 3000 emergency housing places. We are working hard. We are investing to ensure that people have a roof over their heads when they need it the most. We are not doing propaganda like the Opposition trying to run press conferences outside houses that are not even overcrowded—yes trying to run press conferences outside houses that are not even overcrowded.Budget 2016 is focused on the economy. It is focused on low-income people and homeless people yet Opposition members will try to enforce a stereotype that we work for the wealthy and they work for low-income people. But who increased the benefit for the first time in 40-plus years? It was this National Government. Who is working hard for homeless people? It is this National Government. Who is creating opportunities for low-income families? It is this National Government. The Labour and Greens combination stands for no opportunities low job security and more financial burden on families and businesses. This National Government stands for success prosperity and opportunities for families and businesses all around New Zealand. Budget 2016 is a great Budget. Thank you.Hon Phil Goff: Mr Deputy Speaker.