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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-11-13 Daily Xml
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NEW ZEALAND ELECTION

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (12:50): I move:

That this house congratulates the Hon. John Key and the National Party on their landslide win in the New Zealand election on Saturday 8 November.

It is with pleasure that I move this motion. Within days of the great event of Super Tuesday in the United States of America—as a result of which we will see the inauguration of Barack Obama in January next year and the installation of he and his wife, Michelle, and family in the White House—we had Super Saturday in New Zealand. The Hon. John Key, the leader of the National Party, and his team were swept to victory. I understand from New Zealand that it is likely that within a few days the new cabinet will be sworn in and ready to action the new administration for the benefit of New Zealand.

It is important to understand and appreciate the situation in New Zealand, namely, that every week 500 people migrate to Australia. Sadly, almost all of them go to Queensland, but of course one or two along the way have stayed here. I remember one who dropped in in 1975, returned for a few years and came back in 1977. He is still here, of course, and he is in this house—the Premier. So, we have had a few who have turned up.

Every week, 500 New Zealanders migrate to Australia, and they match the 3,500 that we lose from South Australia every year who migrate to other states, mostly to Queensland. There must be something wrong with our administration here in South Australia. Nevertheless, the important event to celebrate today is the Hon. John Key's magnificent victory in New Zealand.

I think it is important to place on the record that the National Party secured 59 seats in its national parliament; the ACT, five; one United Future member; Labor retained 43 seats; the Greens won eight, and they were joined by the Progressive Party member. Overall, after the coalition negotiations, it was a 65:52 victory, and our congratulations go to Mr Key. I read this important comment he made in the press:

New Zealanders have voted for prosperity, for a brighter and more ambitious future.

He is a person with an incredible history. Until six years ago, he was operating in private enterprise, but since then he has been in the New Zealand parliament. He said:

What inspired me then, and still inspires me today, is the belief within ourselves that we have the ability to make our lives better.

That is a great accolade. Incidentally, some members of the house may not know this, but he is the first generation X Prime Minister of New Zealand, having been born on 4 August 1961. Interestingly, Senator Obama was born only five days later, on 9 August. So, we have two fresh faces of the post baby boom army, generation X, who are now in senior positions in the United States and New Zealand. Ms Helen Clark, New Zealand's Labour Prime Minister for the past nine years, acknowledged defeat early on Saturday night. I think it is important that we at least place on record the contribution that she has made as a prime minister. No matter what political persuasion, it is an extraordinary contribution in life, in her case, to serve for nine years as prime minister, and that should be acknowledged.

What she may be doing, I suppose, is almost weeping in her milk and cereal—I do not know if they eat Weet-Bix over there—the next day, thinking, 'Why did I take advice from the President of the ALP in Australia when he came to visit us in New Zealand to help us with our campaign, when he spoke wise words to help contribute to a stunning win of the Labour Party in the New Zealand election?' She must have been weeping into whatever cereal they eat in New Zealand, because, of course, the great contribution from the Premier of South Australia, the President of the ALP, to help her with a campaign was a monumental disaster—a landslide loss for the Labour Party in New Zealand; a big help, of course, from the Premier of South Australia. This is the man, of course, who said in the 2006 election: 'Rann delivers'.

The Hon. S.W. KEY: On a point of order: I am just wondering about the relevance of this contribution with regard to the motion that the member for Bragg has moved. I ask whether you can clarify whether her present contribution is in order.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The contribution does seem to be straying a little, but I will listen closely to the debate.

Ms CHAPMAN: There is no question, though, that the people of New Zealand made a decision that the Labour administration in New Zealand was tired, out of ideas, and no longer able to connect with the aspirations of most of today's voters, and they overwhelmingly swept them out of office. Sadly, no matter what political guru came across the Tasman, flying across to the rescue, to New Zealand, in this case, from Adelaide, it was not enough for them.

I acknowledge John Key. His father died at a young age, I think when he was a pre-schooler. He was raised with his two sisters by his mother, and did not come from beginnings of wealth, comfort or security. I think it is a credit to those who have aspired to be great leaders, and, in this case, gone on to be Prime Minister of New Zealand. I think that that should be acknowledged. It is another story, I suppose, similar to that of Barack Obama. A great leader is now installed in New Zealand. He should be very proud of that achievement, for which we in Adelaide wish to congratulate him.

I have had the privilege, over the last 12 months, of dealing with Mr Tony Ryall, who is the current shadow minister for health in New Zealand. Tony has been inspirational at our national meetings in relation to health reform, funding, workforce issues, primary health, all of the challenges of chronic ill-health, all of the concerns of elective surgery, blow-out lists, budget blow-outs, and the adequate provision of services in emergency departments. These are common in our countries, and they are common problems to address. He has brought, to the table and the political table in New Zealand, with the applause and support of voters in New Zealand, a health policy which I think will stand him in good stead.

What was very clear to note, of course, during the time that he was at our meetings, and which, clearly, the voters in New Zealand totally rejected, is a centrally administered, managed and controlled health system, which was the aspiration of the Labour government in New Zealand. Voters totally rejected the management, clawing out and slashing of services in regional parts of New Zealand, which they also did here in a very clear way. They were outraged that the government administration in New Zealand, on last count in one major district area, was $70 million blown out over budget. It happens to coincide exactly, I think, with what was a blow-out in budget in '07-'08 for the health department here.

Voters were outraged that a government that had been in administration for nearly a decade failed to deal with the workforce issues and requirements for the planning and implementation of doctor and nurse shortages. Not doctors and nurses with a mobile phone, or doctors and nurses running around in offices or cars provided, but doctors and nurses who had the opportunity to contribute their skills in wards in hospitals, next to sick beds. This lack of planning by the New Zealand health minister and the administration under Ms Clark was wholesale rejected. It is an important lesson for South Australia.

Debate adjourned.


[Sitting suspended from 13:00 to 14:00]


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