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Scott Simpson Coromandel MP |
It's been straight back to business and work for me since the election. Results in the Coromandel electorate reflected the nationwide trend and I'm very grateful for the mandate local voters have given me for a second term in our Parliament. Thank you.
Stability was a strong message and theme during the campaign. Prime Minister John Key has made it clear that the government will be focusing on continued economic growth during the next three years. A number of other important priorities for the region and our nation will be at the forefront of the government's action plan.
Welfare reform remains a top concern, as does health. We all want to support our most vulnerable children. We will continue to help people to move away from benefits and into jobs - full-time work is the best way to lift families out of poverty. We want to help people to help themselves.
Good quality housing and targeted support is important for the health and wellbeing of New Zealand families and communities. National's reforms of the social housing sector are an important part of that. Our new Cabinet line-up reflects our focus on housing. We've set up a three-pronged team of ministers to boost social housing provision and to improve housing affordability. We will be supporting young Kiwis saving to buy their own homes through KiwiSaver HomeStart. Our goal is housing more people in need, not to own the most houses. We need more people involved in providing social housing.
In education, we'll be putting in place reforms to improve teaching quality and leadership in our schools. And in terms of the economy, we'll continue diversifying and building productivity. That includes more training places and apprenticeships in high-skill areas.
I am particularly interested in the latest technological developments that'll hugely benefit us from Katikati to Whitianga to Te Aroha – the expansion of Ultra-Fast Broadband and the Rural Broadband Initiative. That'll make doing business here easier as Internet access gets speedier.
Access to reliable infrastructure - such as the Internet and cellphone coverage – is a foundation stone for a strong local economy. It's important that both locals and visitors can communicate beyond our region if they are to build an ongoing and viable future for us all.
Again, thanks for your support. It is an honour and a privilege to represent you and our beautiful part of the world in New Zealand's 51st parliament.