Hayes John: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
Hayes John: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
[Volume:674;Page:20453] 
JOHN HAYES (National—Wairarapa) 
: 
 My apologies Mr Chairperson. I thought the call was going to be taken by the Minister not by me. 
Hon Maurice Williamson 
: I wasn’t in the Chair. 
JOHN HAYES 
: No I noticed that. I preface my comments by recalling to the Committee a very successful Comptroller of Customs in the form of Martyn Dunne who recently disappeared off to Canberra to be our high commissioner. I have to say as a member of the Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee for the last 5 years the Customs Service was outstanding in its presentations to that committee. I congratulate Martyn on that. 
I think it is important to point out at the beginning of my comments that the National-led Government has a plan to take New Zealand forward by reducing our debt getting back to surplus within 3 years and building a faster-growing economy because we want to take the country forward. So we are getting on top of our Government debt by keeping it below 30 percent of GDP. That means by my calculation we will be back in surplus by 2013 and certainly by 2014-15 at the very latest. Since National became the Government we have taken responsible decisions to restrict the build-up in Government debt and to get the Government’s spending and finances under control. In particular we have turned back the 2008 forecast we inherited of never-ending deficits and soaring debt by setting a path back to surplus. We have introduced the biggest reform of the tax system for 25 years which rewards work and saving discourages borrowing and consumption and significantly tightens tax rules on property speculation without having a capital gains tax. 
It is really important during these difficult economic times to take a stable conservative approach to managing the economy and above all to get us on a path to long-term sustained growth. I make those points because this is where the very very important impact of the Customs Service and its Minister Maurice Williamson performs three broad functions that will enhance New Zealand’s prosperity and security. First of all the Customs Service protects our border. Second it facilitates legitimate trade and travel. Third it collects Crown revenue. The Customs Service is also responsible for trade and tourism support and community protection such as by detecting and preventing the importation of illicit drugs illegal weapons and objectionable material. 
Minister Williamson and his department have done an absolutely outstanding and vitally important job. The Customs Service collects 15 percent of the Government’s total revenue and in 2009-10 collected $8.78 billion in customs revenue. I think people do not really understand the importance of this agency to the Government’s cash flow and to this economy. In my experience over the last 5 or 6 years the Customs Service has consistently met its target to collect at least $15 million of additional revenue that traders perhaps under-declare. I noticed that a recent audit of the Customs Service and its revenue collection showed that in 2009-10 the department collected around $30 million above its target. That is an additional $65 million that it has contributed to our economy. 
I reiterate my comments and say what a fine job this department does. It is critically important to our economy and I congratulate the Minister on his leadership. Thank you.