2. CRAIG FOSS (National—Tukituki) to the Minister of Finance: What steps has the Government taken to manage the economy in 2009?

Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance) : The Government inherited an economy in bad shape because it had been so badly managed. The Government has had to deal with the fall-out of many families losing their jobs and finding themselves on low incomes on benefits set by the previous Government. That is why the Government has invested in long-term infrastructure, tax assistance for small businesses, a large-scale home insulation programme, and cutting red tape so that businesses can make positive decisions to employ and invest.

Craig Foss: What has been the effect of the Government’s initiatives?

Hon BILL ENGLISH: The effect of the Government’s initiatives has been to protect thousands of New Zealanders from the sharpest edges of the recession. We have at the same time laid down the platform for lifting our economic performance, because all those people who have lost their jobs because the New Zealand economy was mismanaged will not get them back until a business decides to employ them.

Craig Foss: What expressions of support has the Government received for its sensible economic management?

Hon BILL ENGLISH: There have been many, but there is one that I would like to quote: “We must insist on value for money from the public sector. The state must play its part in stewarding limited budgets and targeting resources to those who need them most.” That was the one useful thing that the Opposition’s finance spokesman said all year.