logo
Labour Lets Greens Take The Opposition Lead On Finance

Labour Lets Greens Take The Opposition Lead On Finance

Scoop9 hours ago

Press Release – New Zealand National Party
Its easy to discount the Greens promises as ridiculous, but Labours approach is looking increasingly similar. The only difference is the Greens can be bothered explaining theirs.'
It is no surprise that the Greens' new 'fiscal strategy' calls for more spending, never-ending budget deficits, more debt and more tax to be saddled on Kiwis, reflecting what appears to be Labour's approach too, says National's Finance Spokesperson Nicola Willis.
'It's easy to discount the Greens' promises as ridiculous, but Labour's approach is looking increasingly similar. The only difference is the Greens can be bothered explaining theirs.
'Both parties, and their mates in Te Pati Māori, are following a recipe that stretches the bounds of fiscal reality.
'So far, Labour has opposed almost every savings measure and signed up for billions of dollars to reinstate old policies, while also saying they will increase spending across the board, continue this Government's infrastructure projects and repeal several measures designed to grow the economy.
'And that's before they tuck their knees under the negotiating table with their four co-deputy prime ministers in the Greens and Te Pati Māori.
'Our kids cannot afford the generational debt and massive tax hikes that would come from a Labour-Greens-Te Pati Māori Government, which would double down on the inflationary, high-tax approach that wrecked the economy in the first place.
'While the Greens have done at least some work in opposition, all Kiwis have seen from Labour is vast spending promises, ever-changing positions on everything from debt limits to public-private partnerships to pay equity. And of course, the promise to tax Kiwis up to their eyeballs if given the opportunity to govern again.
'In contrast, National has spent 18 months pulling every lever possible to get the economy growing after it was sent into the ditch by Labour and Chris Hipkins.
'We are reducing red tape, backing our farmers, ruthlessly pursuing trade opportunities, fast-tracking crucial infrastructure and encouraging investment in new kit with Investment Boost.
'It's been hard, but our plan is working, with growth expected to average 2.7%, wages growing faster than inflation every year, and 240,000 jobs expected to be created over the next four years.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

MPs Caught Swearing As David Seymour Faces Questions On Regulatory Reviews
MPs Caught Swearing As David Seymour Faces Questions On Regulatory Reviews

Scoop

time3 hours ago

  • Scoop

MPs Caught Swearing As David Seymour Faces Questions On Regulatory Reviews

Minister for Regulation, David Seymour, has denied regulatory reviews carried out by the ministry have been for anyone's political benefit, in a tense select committee hearing at Parliament in which two Labour MPs had to apologise for swearing. Seymour appeared before the Finance and Expenditure Committee as part of Scrutiny Week, to face questions on the budget for the Ministry of Regulation. So far, the ministry has carried out reviews into the early childhood education, agricultural and horticultural products, and hairdressing sectors. A fourth review into telecommunications has also been announced. Labour MP Duncan Webb questioned Seymour over whether he or the ACT Party had any connections to donors or lobbyists in those sectors, who would stand to benefit from the reviews. "There's a real concern that it looks like there's an appearance of regulatory reviews being chosen to benefit parties connected politically," Webb said. "How can we have confidence that the decisions are not politically influenced, and are made entirely on the basis of where [the] best wins and values for New Zealanders are." Seymour accused Webb of being improper with his questioning. "The idea that we decided to do a review of the early childhood sector because someone may or may not, I'm not even sure, have donated to the ACT Party a long time ago is frankly fatuous," he said. "My main interaction with the dairy industry is probably through a flat white." Ministry chief executive Gráinne Moss said the review into agricultural and horticultural products was suggested by the ministry itself, to the minister. Webb said the minister should have no part to play in deciding what sectors to review. 'For f***'s sake' - MPs caught swearing The session got off to a tense start, after Labour's Deborah Russell was heard saying "for f***'s sake" during Seymour's opening remarks. National's Ryan Hamilton raised it as a point of order. While committee chair Cameron Brewer was fine to carry on, Seymour made Russell repeat herself. She then withdrew her comment and apologised. Later on, Webb accused Seymour of "making s*** up" regarding the ministry's work on flour dust standards. Seymour also bristled at Labour MP Megan Woods interrupting Moss while she gave an answer, and threatened that ACT would release a video of the Labour MPs' behaviour. After the hearing, Seymour said he was "astonished" by the swearing. "The amount of swearing from Labour MPs, I've never seen that before. Clearly, they're very angry about something, but they were just a rabble. Their various accusations were completely untrue. And really, you have to wonder if these guys are taking it seriously."

Associate Housing Minister tells officials domestic violence victims get emergency accommodation
Associate Housing Minister tells officials domestic violence victims get emergency accommodation

RNZ News

time8 hours ago

  • RNZ News

Associate Housing Minister tells officials domestic violence victims get emergency accommodation

'Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka has told officials to ensure people escaping domestic violence aren't turned away from emergency housing. Labour leader Chris Hipkins raised the issue in the House two weeks ago. The Prime Minister denied Hipkins' claim that women and children fleeing violent homes were "no longer eligible" for emergency accommodation. "That is not happening. Those services are available and that support is available," he said. But Potaka on Tuesday morning seemed to admit there were cases in which some of those people had not been able to get into emergency housing. He told the Social Services and Community select committee: "it's unfortunate that it has happened, and it should not have happened." Potaka believed the first he heard of domestic violence victims being turned away from emergency accommodation was in the House, and he did not recall hearing that from front line providers . Following the exchange in the House, he was "pretty direct" in reminding Ministry of Social Development officials that was not the government's policy, he said. "When I found out about this, I said... there's a policy in place, you must not use that as a basis for declining an emergency housing application to progress on the basis of that being a cause of that circumstance." As part of government changes last year which made emergency housing harder to get into, and stay in, MSD staff assessed whether emergency housing applicants have "unreasonably contributed" to their situation. But Potaka said that did not, and should not, include someone's decision to leave a violent home. However, he reiterated emergency housing was still a last resort. "Emergency housing isn't necessarily the best place to place or land victims of sexual and domestic violence... there are better options for people who have come out of that very dangerous and risky situation." They included transitional, social and community housing, and there would be different availability in different places, he said. The changes to emergency housing were brought in nearly a year ago as part of the government's effort to end the large-scale use of emergency housing. Housing minister Chris Bishop had previously labelled emergency housing as one of the biggest public policy failures in the country's history, and he was adamant no one should be living in motels long-term, saying it carried a huge social and economic cost . But opposition parties criticised proposed changes to the emergency housing system, saying it would leave people sleeping on the street. The latest Ministry of Social Development figures showed at the end of May there were 453 households in emergency housing - down from 2,280 in the same month last year. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

Labour Lets Greens Take The Opposition Lead On Finance
Labour Lets Greens Take The Opposition Lead On Finance

Scoop

time9 hours ago

  • Scoop

Labour Lets Greens Take The Opposition Lead On Finance

Press Release – New Zealand National Party Its easy to discount the Greens promises as ridiculous, but Labours approach is looking increasingly similar. The only difference is the Greens can be bothered explaining theirs.' It is no surprise that the Greens' new 'fiscal strategy' calls for more spending, never-ending budget deficits, more debt and more tax to be saddled on Kiwis, reflecting what appears to be Labour's approach too, says National's Finance Spokesperson Nicola Willis. 'It's easy to discount the Greens' promises as ridiculous, but Labour's approach is looking increasingly similar. The only difference is the Greens can be bothered explaining theirs. 'Both parties, and their mates in Te Pati Māori, are following a recipe that stretches the bounds of fiscal reality. 'So far, Labour has opposed almost every savings measure and signed up for billions of dollars to reinstate old policies, while also saying they will increase spending across the board, continue this Government's infrastructure projects and repeal several measures designed to grow the economy. 'And that's before they tuck their knees under the negotiating table with their four co-deputy prime ministers in the Greens and Te Pati Māori. 'Our kids cannot afford the generational debt and massive tax hikes that would come from a Labour-Greens-Te Pati Māori Government, which would double down on the inflationary, high-tax approach that wrecked the economy in the first place. 'While the Greens have done at least some work in opposition, all Kiwis have seen from Labour is vast spending promises, ever-changing positions on everything from debt limits to public-private partnerships to pay equity. And of course, the promise to tax Kiwis up to their eyeballs if given the opportunity to govern again. 'In contrast, National has spent 18 months pulling every lever possible to get the economy growing after it was sent into the ditch by Labour and Chris Hipkins. 'We are reducing red tape, backing our farmers, ruthlessly pursuing trade opportunities, fast-tracking crucial infrastructure and encouraging investment in new kit with Investment Boost. 'It's been hard, but our plan is working, with growth expected to average 2.7%, wages growing faster than inflation every year, and 240,000 jobs expected to be created over the next four years.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store