🗳️ That the following words be added to the Address: “And expects, over the next three years, to see a closing of the wage gap with Australia; reduced serious crime including family violence; reduced waiting times for elective surgery with twenty new dedicated elective surgery theatres; fewer people on working-age benefits; lower greenhouse gas emissions; increased investment in infrastructure, including rail and public transport; the extension of the fibre network to nearly all homes; all sixteen and seventeen year olds in education, training or employment; no cuts to public services; expanded availability of subsidised medicines; a police to population ratio of 1:500 with all new sworn police officers committed to general duty roles; a doubling of the number of prisoners receiving drug and alcohol treatment; and the settling of half of the remaining historical Treaty of Waitangi claims.”

Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for the Environment): That speech was from a member whose legacy to New Zealand is a decade of deficits. That member said today that we should be spending more, but only 6 months ago he was accusing John Key of being reckless for wanting a... Read more →