Simpson Scott: Debate on Prime Minister’s StatementText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSimpson Scott: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement[Sitting date: 09 February 2016. Volume:711;Page:8789. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]SCOTT SIMPSON (National—Coromandel): It is a privilege and a pleasure to rise in support of the Prime Minister’s statement made in this House earlier this afternoon and to oppose the amendment presented by the current Leader of the Opposition.Before I commence my contribution I just really want to pass a quick comment on the contribution of the Labour member who has just resumed his seat Adrian Rurawhe because it epitomises the problem and the woolly thinking that the Labour Party has right at the moment. He was praising the actions of protesters many of whom clearly had absolutely no idea what they were protesting against who were just there for the day out and the loudspeakers and the parade and then demanding from the Government that we provide solutions to economic problems and challenges but providing no alternative or plan about how wealth can be created to invest in creating those solutions so desperately needed by so many people. And that really sums up the problem that the Labour Party has in terms of its position on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement because the party is split it is divided it is not unified and it is all over the place.It has been a very good summer for the Government. Economic indicators are looking good our economy is growing and forecasts are that over the next 5 years or so the economy will continue to grow at about 2.7 percent per annum. Unemployment is down. We now have unemployment at levels not seen for the last 7 years and we are amongst a very small elite number—I think it is only one of three OECD countries with lower unemployment than ourselves. ACC levies have been reduced and will be reduced further this year. Tourism numbers are up by a staggering percentage with 38 percent growth in the last 12 months in terms of international visitors.This is a Government that is united that is focused that is energetic and that is disciplined and what is more amongst the Government caucus we all like each other. We all get on. It is a strange concept for some parties in this House but we actually enjoy each other’s company. We had an opportunity today in our caucus to hear a very fine contribution from the Hon Tim Groser as he made his final contribution and speech to the National Party caucus. I really want to just acknowledge with grateful thanks as a rural provincial MP the work that Tim Groser has done on behalf of all New Zealanders but in many respects it is the rural and provincial areas of the country that will gain the most in the years to come from the work that he has done. On this side of the House we support our leader we support the Prime Minister and we support his Cabinet. We are focused on the work we do and we are determined to bring even better outcomes for New Zealanders than have been achieved over the last few years of this Government’s administration. We do get on with each other and we like each other’s company.Contrast that with those members who sit opposite. They are ill disciplined they have no focus they are low in energy—as one American political aspirant might describe them—and they are people who are divided split and do not have any sense of unity of either thought or purpose. Those are not the signs of a party that is ready for Government in any way shape or form. There is no sign of any bold new thinking. There is no sign of any intellectual rigour. There is no sign of any planning or forethought about what might be done. The only solution they come up with is more spending of money of hard-working taxpayers’ money and no plan at all about how to generate a greater level of wealth so that economic wealth can be spread around for the entire nation. How is it that in that divided Labour Party opposite the Hon Phil Goff can be granted a special dispensation to support the TPP while David Shearer apparently even though he does support the TPP is granted no such dispensation? And what about Clayton Cosgrove Stuart Nash and some of those other free-thinking right-thinking people in the Labour Party caucus?The TPP will benefit primary producers and manufacturers in my electorate. These are people who understand trade they understand the necessity for us to make our way in the world and they understand and support what this Government is doing because they know that it means more jobs more money and better brighter futures for us all. They understand and know that only good things come from trading internationally and that Labour’s position is not only confused but on this issue is very wrong.I concur with the comments of one of my colleagues earlier this afternoon—I think it was the Hon Paul Goldsmith in his contribution—when he said that he is actually very disappointed and saddened by the once-proud Labour Party which actually was supportive of free trade which actually had a fine free-trade principled position. Its former leader Helen Clark of course said it would be unthinkable—unthinkable—for New Zealand not to be part of this agreement. Voters in my part of the country know that and they now feel let down by this Labour Opposition.I just want to spend a minute or two talking about my electorate because it is one of the most beautiful parts of the country and it has been a very good summer. There is grass that is green in parts of my electorate where normally at this time of the year there is not green grass growing and so the effects of El Nino have not been as harsh or as dramatic as we were concerned about before Christmas.But it would be remiss of me when I am speaking of my electorate not to note the passing of one of the Coromandel’s great iconic characters. Barry Brickell OBE passed away a couple of weeks ago. A potter artist railway builder visionary and absolute true Coromandel character he will be much missed in Coromandel and much missed in the region. As I walked past some of his wonderful clay pots that have been a feature of the Beehive since it was constructed and opened all those years ago I was moved to just touch a pot and think fondly of Barry. I will miss his wonderful long typewritten letters. He used to write letters to me on a manual typewriter covering a whole range of subjects. I learnt very quickly that it was much easier to engage him in a conversation—or preferably go and visit him—in order to engage and respond to those wonderful letters that he used to send me. As I say our region is the poorer for his passing but his legacy will absolutely live on.Over the adjournment I was able to visit most parts of the beautiful Coromandel electorate and I have got to report that people are in good heart. We have actually been in my electorate the net beneficiaries of much of what is called the Auckland property boom. So much focus has been paid on how much houses are selling for in Auckland and who is buying them but actually very little attention has been paid to what happens to the people who have sold their homes and where the money does go.Well I am pleased to report that an awful lot of that money has been coming to regions like mine. In towns like Thames Ngātea Paeroa Te Aroha Whitianga Whangamata and Katikati—these are the towns that are reaping the rewards of the Auckland property boom because people are selling their homes in Auckland and they are coming to live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country where they can buy property that by Auckland standards appears to be of remarkable value. They get a terrific community they get wonderful services they get great schools and they get—naturally of course—a terrific quality of parliamentary representation. But I would say that would I not?They are coming in their droves. What happens then is that often they are buying houses that mean that maybe they have got some surplus cash so they are ripping out bathrooms and putting in new kitchens and that is keeping the tradespeople happy. Then the appliance dealers and sellers are selling new fridges new stoves and new freezers and so the economy in the Coromandel is actually doing very well. Because so many people do visit the Coromandel over the summer I want to thank those people who have kept us safe over the summer: the police ambulance search and rescue the coast guard fire service and all the volunteers who have done such a terrific job when we have so many visitors.This is going to be a very busy and good year for the Government. We have got a very full agenda of work ahead of us. I chair the Local Government and Environment Committee and on our agenda alone we have got a very big piece of work which is phase two of the Resource Management Act reforms which will be coming before my committee shortly. We will continue working on the suite of Christchurch-related legislation that is currently before us and we are working on changes to improve the safety of young children in terms of swimming pool fencing. That will be coming to the committee and the House later this year. It is going to be a good year for the Government it has been a very good summer and I am looking forward to getting back into it. Thank you.