Tabuteau FletcherFLETCHER TABUTEAU (Deputy Leader—NZ First): Unfortunately it is a split call but look I just want to say it's great to see the heavy hitters sitting in the Opposition this afternoon giving their contributions to this meaty debate. It's been fantastic. Mr Bayly can I say that you have been the standout contribution of this afternoon. Actually I do have to say that often you come down to the debating chamber and you feel like you have to raise your voice and I say that because there the members opposite sit and they refuse to listen. Not only do they have their fingers in their ears they refuse to listen to facts. So I wanted to very quickly go over a few facts in the House this afternoon and put it to them just how important these bills are.Now what I want to do is put that into context very quickly. I admit I missed the first half of this appropriations debate because I was in my office talking to some very concerned good people who were talking to me about gangs in their region in their home town close to their homes. They are worried about gangs. I get angry when I have those conversations because for nine years the Opposition when they were in Government told us they were being prudent and saving a dollar today. And technically that is exactly what they were doing. They were putting a dollar aside in their Budget and technically saving money. But what does that cost us today? I put it to this House that that dollar saved is costing New Zealanders exponentially in the money that must be invested now to combat these issues. This is exactly what this appropriations bill is having to deal with. It is having to deal with and combat the kind of 80s-style bean-counting theory from the Opposition who said that they are not a tax-and-spend Government. Well they taxed but they refused to spend it and they made a commitment that they were going to give a tax cut to their mates. And all of this—all of these problems—we know would have continued.So I am here to say today that this is an appropriations bill that focuses on and is about the wellbeing of New Zealanders. It is essentially what we have always said it would be: a Wellbeing Budget. We say that because we are tackling long-term issues facing New Zealanders like mental health child poverty family violence homelessness and I say gangs and drugs in our street; a symptom of neglect from the Opposition. We're doing all of that with a particular focus on our regions which I am particularly proud of. Here's the good news for the members opposite—these are the facts for the members opposite: we are balancing record levels of investment from this Government and actually from business. I'm not sure if the Opposition remembers but it was only a few months ago that the House noted investment from private business was at some of its all-time highest levels. We are maintaining fiscal responsibility meaning we're spending within that Budget that we set ourselves.We are delivering a strong surplus at the same time. We are growing at a rate greater than the average of the OECD and I put it for the members opposite who don't seem to understand long-run average forecasts: actually this Government will see growth greater—I say it again—average growth greater than that Opposition party saw in their time in Government over the next few years. This is a Government that is delivering and we're doing that at the same time that we made a commitment to increase wages in the community at the same time we're experiencing record low unemployment.The doom and gloom merchants opposite forecast that all hell and doom was about to break out because we were going to pay New Zealanders a fair liveable wage and we're working on that trajectory. They said it would all fall apart. Businesses wouldn't employ people. Yet here we are the lowest unemployment levels in 11 years and it's forecast to continue for the foreseeable future. It is this Appropriation (2019/20 Estimates) Bill and Imprest Supply Bill which are helping this Government to achieve it. It is our policies it is the hard work of our Ministers and Cabinet and those outside it is the hard work of everyone on this side of the House and I tell you what: I'm incredibly proud to be part of it. Thank you very much.