National List MP Dr Jackie Blue encourages you to donate to the Cancer Society in exchange for a Daffodil on Friday 27 August.

“This year is the 20th Anniversary of Daffodil Day, and reminds us that cancer affects one in three New Zealanders,” Dr Blue says.

“Daffodil Day started in 1990 and is a major fundraising event for The Cancer Society. Donations received are crucial to helping reduce the incidence and impact of cancer in the community, and ensuring the best cancer care for New Zealanders.

“I will be wearing my daffodil as a symbol of hope for those who are dealing with cancer.”

Donations can be made to any collector on the streets on Friday 27 August. You can also call 0900 31 111 to make an instant $20 donation, or text ‘daffodil’ to 883 to make a $3 donation.

For more information and other ways to donate see www.daffodilday.org.nz

The economy is recovering. But this recovery will be different from those we’ve had before.

It must be built on exports and investment, and not the debt and spending we saw over the past decade. That’s the only way to create the sustainable jobs and higher incomes that hard-working Kiwis deserve.

Because of this, the recovery might appear a bit patchy at times, as the global economy remains uncertain and as households and businesses pay off debt. So although things are looking up, some local families and firms will find the going tough.

On top of that, New Zealand’s recession started earlier than other countries and we have to work harder to shrug it off. Our exporting industries shrank between 2005 and 2010, when New Zealand spent too much and saved too little.

So it’s going to take a lot to turn things around. And it won’t be a short-term job. It will need a relentless and long-term focus.

That’s why National has a comprehensive economic plan with six drivers to get faster economic growth, create jobs, and boost incomes. These drivers are:

• Strengthening our tax system,


• Providing better, smarter public services,


• Reforming regulations,


• Improving education and skills,


• Promoting business innovation and trade, and


• Investing in smart infrastructure.

We’ve already made good progress.

On 1 October, every earner will receive a tax cut. This will make the average family $25 a week better off after GST changes. Find out how the tax changes will affect you at www.taxguide.govt.nz.

We’re improving the frontline public services that you rely on – such as health, education, and law and order – and the way public assets are funded and managed.

We’re reforming regulations such as the Resource Management Act, the Building Act, and employment law to boost jobs and growth.

We’re lifting achievement in schools with National Standards and more frontline funding.

We’re working with businesses to add value to our exports through the Primary Growth Partnership and other science, research, and development projects.

And we’re unclogging the growth arteries by investing billions in roads, broadband, the electricity network, and rail, as well as upgrading schools, homes, and hospitals.

But this is just a start. You’ll see more announcements from the Government in the months ahead as we make ongoing improvements to get faster growth, create jobs, and boost incomes.

National knows that only a strong economy can provide financial security for families, real opportunity for young people, safer communities, and the high-quality education and health services that all New Zealanders need.

T?n? koe, Mr Chairperson. T?n? t?tou e te Whare. I congratulate the Minister of Transport on the leadership he is providing in the transport area. The Government is serious about unclogging the arteries of our economy to create jobs and growth, with better roads, broadband, rail, and electricity networks. Jobs and growth are essential if New Zealand and New Zealanders are to get ahead. Development of infrastructure is central to lifting New Zealand’s productivity and improving future economic growth. The Government is very focused on that area. The Government is spending $6 billion on infrastructure projects: specifically, in respect of the transport area, there is a $500-million upgrade of Auckland rail, and a $250-million upgrade for the wider rail network and rolling stock. There is also $10.7 billion over 10 years for State highways. State highways account for 50 percent of road use in New Zealand; therefore, an advanced State highway system is essential to maintain effective linkages throughout the country.

The money that the Government has committed reflects how important infrastructure is to the Government’s wider economic policy programme and New Zealand’s longer-term economic prospects. As an example, work on the Victoria Park tunnel began last November, a year ahead of schedule. Without extra funding, that project might never have got off the ground, and neither would the jobs or economic benefits it is bringing. More recently, the Minister, along with the Prime Minister, opened the Manukau Harbour Crossing 7 months ahead of schedule. The crossing is part of the Auckland western ring route, one of the seven roads of national significance announced in March last year.

The Government’s $1billion boost to State highway funding has provided a secure funding pipeline, which has given contractors the confidence to continue investing in people and machinery and to complete projects more quickly. Earlier this month the New Zealand Transport Agency announced that the southern half of the Newmarket viaduct on State Highway 1 will also open 6 months ahead of schedule.

High-calibre infrastructure matters, because it supports productivity and economic competitiveness. An important spin-off from this commitment is that in the deepest and most coordinated global recession since the 1930s, effective investment in productive infrastructure has supported many thousands of jobs across the country. KiwiRail is a subsidiary of the New Zealand Railways Corporation. It has been a priority for this Government to make KiwiRail productive. During its last year in office, the previous Labour Government spent more than $1 billion on KiwiRail, an investment that plummeted in value. The Government is committed to turning KiwiRail around.

In Budget 2010 the Government invested $250 million to support KiwiRail and its plan to ensure that KiwiRail can stand on its own two feet financially. Improving rail transport will be important in moving people and freight around. The $250 million in Budget 2010 builds on previous commitments to Auckland and Wellington commuter rail, and that includes the half a billion, when appropriated, for KiwiRail to buy electric trains for Auckland. Efficient and effective transport links are important drivers of growth. We are committed to making economically sensible decisions and making our investments in rail deliver for taxpayers and the economy. Investing to support KiwiRail will help improve New Zealand’s economic productivity and put us on the path to faster growth. Our investment reflects the fact that the amount of freight being moved on New Zealand’s transport network will double by 2040, and all transport modes need to become more efficient to meet that demand. Achieving that will be challenging, and it will require the support of all stakeholders, including the Government, KiwiRail, customers, unions, and regional councils.

Auckland is vital to the economy of New Zealand. It has one-third of New Zealand’s population, and it is a major contributor to our economy. Unfortunately, it has suffered for far too long with bottlenecks, delays, and uncompleted roading networks. The Government is creating a new transport council-controlled organisation in Auckland, called Auckland Transport. It will enhance the current nine Auckland transport entities and will be responsible for all local authority transport delivery functions in Auckland, including local roads and public transport. Thank you.

Dr JACKIE BLUE (National) : I will speak briefly. I thank all members for their support of the Consumer Guarantees Amendment Bill. I am really pleased and delighted that it will go to a select committee and be merged with the Minister’s consumer reform legislation, which he is bringing to this House, hopefully later this year. I certainly hope it will be this year. I think the matters raised in this bill are urgent and have been of some concern for some time in the sector. The online issue is urgent because of the sheer number of transactions that occur on a daily, monthly, and yearly basis. I know that TradeMe has been extremely concerned. It brought in its own code of practice for professional sellers some 18 months ago because there was no legislation. It has been waiting for this legislation to come to the House.

The loophole, where if a consumer wins a competitive auction from a professional trader he or she is not covered by the Consumer Guarantees Act, is not something that online bidders understand. Very good points have been made about educating the public about the Consumer Guarantees Act. Equally concerning is the issue of unnecessary extended warranties being bought. The fact is that often when consumers buy items and they buy extended warranties, they are probably paying for protection consumers are already entitled to under the Consumer Guarantees Act or other consumer laws; or even their home and contents insurance policy may cover it, and possibly the manufacturer’s warranty. But, as the Minister indicated in her speech, there may be situations where an extended warranty is entirely appropriate.

Once again, I thank members for their support. I think members have raised important issues, which I am sure will be taken up at the select committee. I look forward very much to this bill becoming part of the consumer legislation the Minister is bringing to the House later this year. Thank you.

National’s new approach to help lift student achievement is an exciting and innovative way forward for education, says Jackie Blue.

“We’re changing the way the Ministry supports teachers and pupils, with targeted funding and support for children identified as needing extra help,” Dr Blue says.

“I’m excited that expert practitioners will be working closely with our local schools to help support learning.

“These specialists will work with teachers throughout the Mt Roskill to develop learning plans designed to improve student achievement.”

At least 50 practitioners will be appointed to work closely with schools or clusters of schools to lift educational performance.

The Government is also investing $36 million to help children who need extra support in reading, writing, and maths, while refocusing professional development for teachers and principals towards lifting student achievement.

“These changes will build on the information provided by National Standards and will see more education resources being moved to the frontline,” Jackie Blue says.

“This is good news for our local children and the economic and social wellbeing of Mt Roskill.”

Drink drivers kill and maim innocent people, wreck lives, and destroy families. They leave carnage on our highways and scars on our communities.

Current policies are not working. Last year 36,000 New Zealanders were convicted of drink driving. On any given day, around 100 drivers are caught over the legal limit.

It’s clear we have a big drink driving problem in New Zealand. If we can get it under control, we’ll see a lower road toll.

That’s why, last week (July 26) the National-led Government announced a package aimed at making our roads safer by cracking down on drink-driving.

We’ll put legislation in place by early next year to set a zero drink-drive limit for repeat drink drivers and for drivers under 20, and to introduce alcohol interlocks for repeat drink-drivers.

We’re also strengthening the penalties for offences including:

• Drink or drug driving causing death
• Dangerous or reckless driving causing death
• Illegal street racing causing death
• Failure to stop after a crash when someone is killed.

Tougher sanctions will bring these penalties in line with other serious offences, reflect the serious nature of these crimes, and help make our roads safer. By targeting those most likely to break the law we’re confident we’ll have a significant impact.

We’re also considering lowering the blood alcohol limit from 0.08 to 0.05. We‘ll make a final call after conducting New Zealand research on the risks posed by drivers with a blood-alcohol limit between 0.05 and 0.08.

Part of the research will tell us the actual number of serious and fatal crashes caused by drivers with a blood alcohol level between 0.05 and 0.08. This research will be done over two years.

We need to ensure New Zealanders understand the difference between 0.05 and 0.08, and what impact a change is likely to have on the road toll.

Road safety measures only work if they have the broad support of road-users. We want to be sure New Zealanders understand the benefits of a change and fully support it before proceeding. We need to take the people of New Zealand with us on this issue.

National is committed to addressing New Zealand’s drink driving problem. A zero drink drive limit for young drivers and repeat offenders, tougher penalties for reckless and dangerous driving, and new research into lowering the blood alcohol limit will help clamp down on drink drivers, reduce the carnage on our highways, and make our roads safer for all New Zealanders.

Jackie Blue is urging Mt Roskill locals to come up with ideas for New Zealand’s biggest ever festival.

Today the Government announced a new $9.5 million Lotteries Fund to support community events and activities in every part of the country in the lead-up to, and during, the Rugby World Cup.

“The Rugby World Cup will be a huge event for New Zealand, and a great chance for us to celebrate as a region,” says Dr Blue

“Twenty three centres around the country are hosting games or teams, bringing widespread economic benefits. This fund will ensure that Mt Roskill can make the most of the opportunity.

“This fund will complement the investment regions are already making in the World Cup festival. There are already some great event and activity ideas out there. We want to hear more!”

Applications for the New Zealand 2011 Festival Lottery Fund will open on July 27 and close on August 31. Successful applicants will be announced by the end of October.

“Our locals know best how to show off what our region has to offer. We have one of the most diverse electorates in the country” Jackie Blue said.

“The world up is more than just the matches. We want to make sure our visitors get to see our country, meet our people and have a great time in between the games.”

“This is a chance to show-case Mt Roskill”.

For more information on the Fund, visit: www.dia.govt.nz

For more information on the Festival, visit: www.nz2011.govt.nz

As we continue to grow out of the recession, we need to have the right environment to create more jobs. Economic growth happens when a business sees an opportunity and is prepared to invest, expand, take risks, and hire new workers.

The National-led Government is committed to giving businesses of all sizes the confidence to do these things.

We introduced the 90-day trial period in 2008 to encourage employers with fewer than 20 employees to take on new staff, and to expand job opportunities for people who often struggle to get work.

It is working extremely well. A Department of Labour report found that the vast majority of people employed on a trial period have remained employed.

The report said most employers viewed dismissals during the trial period as an unfavourable outcome, and actively tried to avoid them.

The voluntary 90-day trial is a win-win situation for employers and employees. That’s why we’re extending the trial period to all employers so that every business and new employee can benefit from it.

Extending trial periods is just part of the package of employment law improvements we’re making.

National is committed to maintaining a fair and equitable system that protects the rights of New Zealand workers.

We’re changing the personal grievance process to resolve employment problems more quickly, discourage poor practices, reduce costs, and improve confidence in the system.

We’re also looking at changing the law around sick days. Employers will be able to require a medical certificate from employees who take one sick day. This will be at the expense of the employer.

Employers aren’t going to waste their time and money asking every employee for a medical certificate when they take a day off sick. This option is about the ability to question those who may be abusing their sick leave. Common sense tells us it will be used sparingly, and good workers aren’t going to see any difference.

There will also be changes to the Holidays Act. This will include giving employees the ability to trade one of their four weeks’ annual leave for cash. Cashing in the fourth week of leave can’t be raised in salary negotiations and can only be at the employee’s request. Maximum penalties will double for employers who don’t comply with the Holidays Act.

National’s employment law package is pragmatic, credible, and effective. It’s one more step on the road to a growing economy and more jobs.

I know how tough the recession has been for many families.

Welfare will always be there to catch those who have fallen on hard times or unable to work due to illness or disability. But for some, the welfare safety net has become a trap, locking them into a life of limited income and limited choices.

That’s why National is rebalancing our welfare system, focusing on work, and providing more opportunities for young people.

Our Future Focus reforms ensure that welfare is fair, improve outcomes for beneficiaries, and support economic growth.

There will be new part-time work obligations for people on the Domestic Purposes Benefit with a youngest child over six, and for people on a Sickness Benefit who have been medically assessed as being able to work part-time. We are making changes to the Unemployment Benefit, and introducing more rigorous reassessments for Sickness Beneficiaries to get people back to work sooner.

Future Focus provides more support for those who need it. We are boosting childcare options for sole parents by expanding out-of-school support for children, and providing more training support for sole parents on the DPB. We also legislated for benefit increases in line with inflation, providing certainty to beneficiaries.

Recently we extended our Community Max scheme. This provides six-month placements for 16- to 24-year-olds on community or environmental projects. Participants are paid at least the minimum wage and are eligible for training.

Four out of five young people who've completed Community Max have remained off a benefit, with 43 per cent of those currently in work or training, and gaining real life skills. More importantly, disconnected young people are engaging with their communities. In turn, communities are encouraging young people to develop their potential.

We’ve invested an extra $17.4 million in Community Max this year, giving a further 1500 young people experience and skills working in the community.

Our Job Ops scheme provides valuable work experience for young unemployed people by subsidising positions with an employer. Many employers have been so impressed, they’ve taken young people on permanently. So far, 93 per cent of those who finished their placement have stayed off the benefit.

National is determined to rebalance our welfare system. Future Focus, Community Max and Job Ops are helping provide the essential safety net families need, assisting people back to work, and creating real opportunities for young people. They’re just some of the steps we’re taking to secure a brighter future for all New Zealanders.

The future of our communities – and our economy – relies on the education, skills, and success of our young people. That’s why National is working hard to ensure that all children get the skills and opportunities they need to succeed.

Improving educational outcomes is one of our top priorities.

With this in mind, the National-led Government is pumping more money into education than ever before, despite the tough economic environment. Budget 2010 provides an extra $1.4 billion for better schooling and early childhood education over the next four years. We want all young people to enjoy the best possible start to life.

We’re buying school sites, opening new schools, and fixing leaky classrooms, with hundreds of millions of new operating and capital funding. This will ensure teaching and learning environments are focused on the needs of students.

We are investing $48.3 million to build ultra-fast broadband support for schools, to bring learning into the 21st century. The focus is on upgrading schools’ networks in preparation for the use of ultra-fast broadband in their teaching and learning programmes. Broadband is vital to ensure that students receive an education that equips them for an innovative and dynamic economy.

Our Youth Guarantee scheme helps 16- and 17-year-olds who are ready to move beyond school, but who still want to study and learn practical skills. It provides free study towards school-level qualifications at polytechnics, wänanga, and private training establishments.

We are spending an extra $48 million over four years to increase Youth Guarantee places from 2000 to 2500 a year from 2011. Students are selected from areas of highest need, based on youth unemployment rates and access to suitable training programmes.

National is committed to ensuring that our children receive high-quality early childhood education (ECE). We’re increasing spending on ECE by $107 million to a total of $1.3 billion in 2010/11. ECE spending has almost trebled since 2004/05, while the percentage of children participating rose by less than 1 per cent in the same period.

Too many children are missing out, so we’re putting more than $90 million into projects that increase participation for those who benefit most from ECE, but who are least likely to take part. This includes families from Maori, Pacific, and lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Young people are our future. Their efforts will lift our prosperity and drive tomorrow’s economy. National is working to ensure that every single young New Zealander has the opportunity to reach their potential.

A lot of people tell me how important health care is to them. Whether that’s getting necessary surgery, shorter hospital stays, or better access to disability support services.

Your health and the health of your family is important to me. That’s why the National-led Government is boosting health spending in Budget 2010 by $2.1 billion over the next four years.

Health is the single biggest item of new spending in Budget 2010, increased by $512 million to $13.5 billion in 2010/11. That’s $1.4 billion a year more than when we came into Government.

Elective surgery is a priority for this Government. In 2009 we boosted elective surgery by almost 13,000 operations – the largest ever annual increase – such as cataract removal, joint replacements, and ear, nose and throat surgeries.

We’ve provided a further $59.5 million in Budget 2010 for elective surgery, $8 million specifically for breast reconstruction. Boosting the number of elective operations will help improve the quality of life for people who get these operations.

We’re setting up a pilot project to screen the most commonly diagnosed cancer in New Zealand. We’ve allocated $24 million in the Budget to see if a nationwide screening programme aimed at early detection of bowel cancer is feasible. A nationwide programme could ensure earlier treatment and reduce the death rate by more than a third, saving up to 270 lives a year.

National believes in helping people with disabilities to lead more independent lives with greater access to necessary support. That is why we are spending an extra $93 million over the next four years for disability support services.

This includes residential services for people with intellectual disabilities, home and community support services, supported independent living, and respite care. The extra funding will also cut waiting times for adults getting cochlear impacts and will provide more home modifications and equipment for those who need it.

We have also identified areas of lower priority spending and shifted it to high priority and frontline public health services. One of our new priorities is increasing the number of medical school places by 200 over five years. The first stage of this began this year with 60 additional medical students. Budget 2010 funds another 20 places on top of that.

Our Budget measures will help us to continue improving frontline health services for you and your family. They demonstrate the National-led Government’s strong commitment to delivering better, sooner, more convenient healthcare for all New Zealanders.

Jackie Blue welcomes the retrofitting of more than 50,000 homes under the Government’s Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart home insulation and heating programme.

“When we kicked off the four-year scheme in July last year we had a target to make 27,500 homes warmer and healthier in the first year,” Dr Blue says.

“The scheme has been an outstanding success and we are well on track to meet our target of at least 188,500 homes insulated by 2013.”

In Auckland more than 9812 households have been made warmer and drier in the first 11 months of the scheme, Jackie Blue says.

“Along with greater comfort and health benefits for occupants, the programme has had a positive economic impact during difficult times, creating valuable jobs in Auckland,” Jackie Blue says.

About 2000 new jobs are expected to be created across the country as a result of the programme.

“We are seeing good growth in the many businesses directly and indirectly involved,” Jackie Blue says.

Under the $347 million scheme the Government is providing grants for all householders of up to $1300 for houses built before 2000 that need ceiling and under-floor insulation. Once insulation is up to standard, homeowners can get $500 towards a clean, efficient heating system.

Community Services Card holders qualify for a 60 per cent subsidy for insulation and up to $1200 for a clean heat device. The scheme has also attracted about $15 million in additional funding in its first year from a range of community groups, health trusts, and other organisations.

“I am delighted to see this extra funding help those people most in need who can access the scheme for free, or at very little cost,” Dr Blue says.

A further $791,000 is being injected into critical social services in South and Central Auckland under the Government’s Community Response Fund.

“To date, the Community Response Fund has contributed almost $3.4 million in the region to ensure 74 community organisations have the support they need to provide social services,” says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

This is round three of the fund, established last year to help NGOs meet critical demand while under financial pressure from an economic recession.

“We’ve made the commitment to ensure that groups providing vital social services can respond successfully to needs in their community.

“Applications were assessed by a regional panel with community representation. The panel has made sure that we’ve got the mix right. We trust communities to know themselves best and where support is needed most,” says Ms Bennett.

Community organisations apply for funding under two criteria: financial crisis and increased demand, including innovative ways to meet increased demand.

Round Three has seen an easing in the grants for crisis and demand, together with an increase in innovative solutions.

“The increase in innovation tells me that given support and opportunity, communities are smart and resourceful, well able to solve their own issues.

“We’re seeing greater collaboration and more sharing of back office functions among providers who continue to improve as a result,” says Ms Bennett.

The Community Response Fund has provided $25 million to 479 organisations across the country.

Applications for Round Four of the Community Response Fund opened in February and will close in July.

Media contact: Jackie Blue 021 224 1347

Crime impacts on us all. It affects our communities. It affects our economy. But the biggest impact is on the victims of crime and their families. They have to deal with the emotional, physical, and financial effects of crime long after it’s been committed.

Victims have been neglected for too long. National is putting victims at the heart of the justice system.

Last week, (1 July) on-the-spot safety orders came into effect. These ensure that victims of domestic violence get immediate protection from dangerous situations.

Police will now be able to remove an alleged violent person from the home for a period of up to five days. This will provide a period of safety in which victims can consider their options.

National is also improving services for victims of violent crime. These include a range of initiatives that will help address the financial and emotional costs that victims face.

From 1 July, all convicted offenders will pay a $50 offender levy. This levy will be imposed automatically on offenders at sentencing – regardless of the crime they commit. The levy will collect an estimated $13.6 million over the first four years. It will support additional entitlements and services for victims of serious crime.

These include:
• Increased grants for families of homicide victims.
• Assistance with expenses resulting from sexual violence.
• A High Court attendance grant of $124 per person per day for up to five adult
members of a homicide victim’s family.
• Increases in travel, accommodation, and childcare assistance for victims attending
court proceedings.
• Funeral grants for families of homicide victims.

Victims of sexual violence will receive further support in courts. This service will give victims access to a trained adviser who understands the dynamics of sexual violence cases and victims’ needs.

Families of homicide victims will receive an enhanced service that will provide practical and emotional support to families.

And all victims of crime will now have access to more information about the justice system by way of a DVD, support material, and a redesigned victims’ website.

National is committed to addressing the impact of crime on victims. We can’t take away the pain of victims’ loss or injury, but we can help smooth the way.

Our new on-the-spot safety orders, the new offender levy, and extra victim support will help ensure offenders contribute to addressing the harm their behaviour causes, and put victims at the heart of the justice system.