Webb DuncanDr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour—Christchurch Central): Tēnā koe Te Mana Whakawā. Well what have we got here? We've got an Opposition full of fear. It's no wonder people want to know what's going on when all we have from the other side of the House is scaremongering and doomsaying. You know what? What we have in this Budget is a new direction a New Hope"—it's not the "Return of the Sith". What we have are a whole lot of new initiatives to pick up the huge deficits and the decrepit economy that this Government was left with. What's more it's a sustainable approach. It's an approach which is looking at the long term. We're not looking at the very next election we're not looking at your road for your constituents; we're looking at building a New Zealand for all New Zealanders which is sustainable which has wise investment which will be here for years to come and which recognises that we've got to change the way we do things.We're going to do it responsibly. We're going to do it within the fiscal constraints that exist within the fiscal constraints that we have recognised New Zealanders need so that they will have certainty looking forward—keeping our debt within constraints having responsible spending. And you know what this is really about? This Budget is about the real hard-working New Zealanders the New Zealanders who are working day in day out—many of them in very low-paid work—doing work which is of critical importance. They're not just our care workers our teacher-aides but also some of those people who are in professions that really aren't being recognised well enough and we're working on that as well.We've got to look at those people who work full-time jobs and still can't make ends meet. That's where we are looking. That's why we raised the minimum wage. Let it be noted here that when that minimum wage was raised there was no increase in unemployment—quite the opposite. Employment is high participation rates are high and employment is right at its sustainable level. Employment is higher than it has ever been and we're still creating more jobs for New Zealanders—for hard-working New Zealanders who need to get on. So we are focused on those people not the high-income earners but those people at the bottom.We need to lift wages. We are committed for every working New Zealander over time to get a living wage. It's no good to have a minimum wage which is less than the living wage; we need a living wage for all New Zealanders to give people the dignity and the mana in work and that's what we are aiming for. At the moment we need to assist people. That's why we increased Working for Families which puts an average of $75 a week into families' pockets and a winter energy payment as well because we know how tough it is out there for those working families. And you know what? Don't be afraid of paying a fair wage. Don't be afraid. Don't be fearsome of having a fair employment arrangement.The employment reforms that are on the books—the right of a union member to enter into a workplace has been there for years. All we are doing is removing the entirely unfair and inappropriate constraints on that. No a union delegate should not have to ask for permission. Let's recognise what unions do. They are advocates—advocates for workers who may not have a voice for themselves. So let a delegate enter a workplace and enter into a conversation and let's stop pretending it's about conflict. It's about cooperation. It's about making that workplace better for employers and employees. We know that we could be more productive. The best way to have a productive economy is having workers and businesses working side by side for a common objective. That's what this will do. This will enable a meaningful conversation and stop the suggestion that we are at loggerheads with employers and businesses—we are not. We want good businesses just like everyone else does.It's simply not the case—it's fatuous to suggest—that entry into the workplace is at any time and without constraints. Have a look at the Act—have a look. Already in section 21 of the Employment Relations Act entry has to be reasonable and within working hours. It has to be done in a reasonable way on a normal business basis—through the front door—and expressly must comply with any health and safety requirements or any security requirements. So it's simply inaccurate and it's pernicious to suggest that this is someone swanning into a workplace to disrupt what's going on there. What's more there's an obligation to notify the employer that the visit's happened and the purpose of the visit so it's highly constrained.So look let's get this economy more productive. That's what this is all about. This is about smart growth and to do that we need to work together and that's what's going to happen. We've got a whole lot of other initiatives in this Budget which is aimed absolutely at growing the economy but not growing it in a false way not growing it by adding more people to it or simply adding meaningless consumption but adding genuine innovation—a green fund to say "Look if you've got a project which will both return a dividend and progress a carbon-free environment and economy let's hear about it. There's money we want to spend on you." I recommend every entity out there look closely at it whether it be local government whether it be entrepreneurs or whether it be social enterprises. This is money that this Government wants to spend because it's going to be better for everyone.The fantastic Provincial Growth Fund recognises that the provinces are a powerhouse of our economy but sometimes they're left behind and that we need to be putting resources in there to enable the people in the provinces to take their place at the top table of our economy and really get on and move it—whether it be through forestry whether it be through improving ports but improving our economic infrastructure in a meaningful way.Research and development is somewhere where we have fallen behind. We don't spend nearly enough on improving the way we do things on thinking carefully or on innovation. This Government has put $1 billion aside in tax incentives—$1 billion—for people who will invest up front in research and development in those amazing people the innovators of this world who will also reap the benefits as they come to patent or copyright their inventions and what have you.What's more we're going to get infrastructure right. There is $10 billion of additional funding into infrastructure but we're not going to build meaningless roads that we have to tell everyone are of special significance. What we're going to do is we're going to address genuine infrastructure problems in an innovative way. What we need are safe roads and I was horrified to hear the member for Hunua hollering again about his roads in his electorate. Rural roads are important and they do need upgrading. We need a genuine network. It's not just about how fast you can drive from Ashburton to Christchurch; it's about all around the country—north to south from Bluff to Cape Reinga. So look what we have here is a hopeful Budget—a Budget which gives us a new way of doing things where everyone can participate in the economy and where we have an innovative approach. We're supporting people to do things—a new way a more productive way and a way which includes all New Zealanders. I'm very proud to be part of a Government that's doing it. Thank you Madam Assistant Speaker."