GEORGINA BEYER (Labour): The contribution from the member who has just resumed her seat really betrays the bitterness of that member, who finds herself the handmaiden to Rodney Hide—full of whingeing and talking down the very good reasons why this bill should be supported in its second reading. Frankly, this bill is about assisting New Zealanders in the best way. That was certainly evidenced by the result of the election—a result that that member most certainly did not benefit from as well as she might have thought she would. The party the member belongs to went from seven members down to two, and she now finds herself in a party of two.

The majority of New Zealanders overwhelmingly supported at least two of the key issues explained in this particular bill, one of which gives assistance to New Zealand families through the Working for Families package. As from 1 April next year the average size of the extra family assistance is expected to be about $50 a week. That amount, added to increases that were already scheduled to come into effect on 1 April next year, will make a significant difference to family income. It will be as much as $100 extra a week in some cases. If the National Party members had been on the Government benches at precisely that time next year—1 April—those members would have cut $10 a week from the lowest income earners in this country, by dealing with their annual increases. Potentially, that would have cut the income of many thousands of New Zealanders. That is quite contrary to what is in this bill, which is positive about New Zealand families.

It is just like the Government’s student loan interest repayment pledge to wipe off the interest, which will also be progressed in this bill. We have increased the participation rate in tertiary education in this country. Along with financial and human resources, we have now also addressed the legacy that the party that sits across the way in Opposition in this House had set in motion and that has since indebted many thousands of New Zealanders. Those young people are the future of our country, and since this Government has come into power it has always pledged to address the awful legacy of student loans that was left behind by the previous National Government. We will invest in our future New Zealanders. They will in turn reinvest, by their good will and loyalty to this country, by returning here to give of themselves in order to enhance New Zealand.

I certainly support this bill.