Budget speeches

44 comments on “Budget speeches ”

• Comments are now closed

1. b waghorn 1

   21 May 2015 at 4:53 pm

   They’ve got a question and answer session going on stuff with English what’s below is one of them.the top bit is his reply to the question at bottom

   “”The modern Labour Party is intellectually bankrupt and has no new or creative thinking related to what they regard as their core constituency, they’re stuck in the solutions of the 70s and 80s – that’s their problem.
   via·6 minutes ago
   Comment From Stevie J
   Hey Bill, how much did getting one over the opposition play a part in lifting benefits? They wouldn’t have seen that one coming, eh?””

   Why if labour have no new thinking did national steel there ideas.?
   • Clemgeopin 1.1

     21 May 2015 at 5:24 pm

     English the double dipper was the same idiot that was secretly planning to sell the Kiwi Bank and make changes to WWF, but got caught out on audio recording!

     http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0808/S00008.htm
     Audio: Bill English Talks About KiwiBank Being Sold. At the National Party conference on Friday night National Party deputy leader Bill English was overheard talking to a couple of delegates about how he would sell KiwiBank and make changes to Working For Families once elected. EDITOR’S NOTE: Low audio sound quality.

     And it is also the same idiot who kept most of the excellent economic and social policies of the Labour government of Clark-Cullen and has in this budget copied the gist of some of the Labour party ideas on the Auckland housing crises, poverty and other issues, (though typically screwing the low income people in other ways such as the Kiwi saver kick starter scheme etc.) English has the arrogance to say that Labour does not have intellectual rigour for good ideas. English and Key are dishonest nasty lying crooks. Do not believe nor trust them, their truthfulness, sincerity or integrity. Basically they are there to work for the wealthy with a few crumbs thrown to the less wealthy for political expediency.
     • b waghorn 1.1.1

       21 May 2015 at 6:03 pm

       “”English and Key are dishonest nasty lying crooks. Do not believe nor trust them, their truthfulness, sincerity or integrity””
       You’re preaching to the converted on that one I cottoned on to how dodgy key was about a month before his first win.
   • Colonial Rawshark 1.2

     21 May 2015 at 6:10 pm

     “”The modern Labour Party is intellectually bankrupt and has no new or creative thinking related to what they regard as their core constituency, they’re stuck in the solutions of the 70s and 80s – that’s their problem.

     Well, well, well. Know thy enemy, as they say.
     • tracey 1.2.1

       22 May 2015 at 9:00 am

       it’s also a very good description of bill english
2. David H 2

   21 May 2015 at 5:40 pm

   But from whats being said on twitter the increase is nothing but a sham.

   Russell Brown @publicaddress · 21m 21 minutes ago
   So the supposed $25 benefit increase abates for people who have any other assistance, including accommodation supplement. #Budget2015

   So if you have any kind of increase or assistance you get Zip
   • Colonial Rawshark 2.1

     21 May 2015 at 6:27 pm

     In that case what National has done is lift the floor $25/wk or so on those beneficiaries who qualify for the least under the current system, including those who have been denied other monies by the vagaries of the WINZ system and its staff.
     • Karen 2.1.1

       21 May 2015 at 7:01 pm

       There will be very few beneficiaries that are not getting supplements of some kind. They would have to have free, or almost free, accommodation and everyone in the family would have to be healthy enough not to require a disability allowance.
       This isn’t an extra $25 at all.
       • Craig H 2.1.1.1

         21 May 2015 at 10:41 pm

         Anyone in a state house doesn’t get the accommodation supplement as well as income-related rent.
         • Colonial Rawshark 2.1.1.1.1

           21 May 2015 at 10:46 pm

           I think English has narrowly targeted the measure to significantly help the very worst off…
           • tracey 2.1.1.1.1.1

             22 May 2015 at 9:02 am

             I think English has narrowly targetted the measure to significantly make people think National is helping the worse off when it is using the increase to a very small number to justify the taking away of much bigger stuff.

             In terms of the framework for low income and beneficiaries, exactly who do you see him targetting? Describe their circumstances to me, I genuinely want to know and am not being cute.
         • Karen 2.1.1.1.2

           22 May 2015 at 10:04 am

           Yes, but the $25 will be treated as income so those in state houses will have to pay an extra $6.25 rent.
3. alwyn 3

   21 May 2015 at 6:11 pm

   Poor Annette.
   I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so embarrassed as she was during Little’s speech.
   She was stuck in camera shot for the whole time, and had to sit there trying to pretend that anything sensible was emanating from the person on her left.
   I’ve heard some terrible speeches from Little but this one takes the prize for puerility.
   • mickysavage 3.1

     21 May 2015 at 6:42 pm

     You guys are busy. So the preordained line was attack Andrew’s speech.

     It was not the best I have seen him give but I do not expect perfection. It was still miles better than Key’s.

     You have to understand the opposition gets little notice of what is in the budget so initial speeches are always somewhat reflective.
     • SHG 3.1.1

       21 May 2015 at 7:15 pm

       We don’t want no damn gender reassignment! This government has to be STRAIGHT!

       …wtf?
     • alwyn 3.1.2

       21 May 2015 at 7:16 pm

       “the opposition gets little notice of what is in the budget”
       When I was a kid the budget was presented on Thursday evening and the rest of the evening was only spent on bills under urgency if they were required to implement budget measures. The leader of the Opposition then spoke on the following Tuesday.
       Do you know the year that changed and the leader of the opposition had to get up immediately? I couldn’t find it via Google unfortunately.
       A somewhat cynical friend of mine, whom I asked, tells me it was brought in by the Clark Government and was intended to make it hard on the opposition. I don’t know whether they really were responsible but someone reading this may know.
       I doubt if Little is very happy about it though. He doesn’t do very well in what is an impromptu speech does he?
       ” It was still miles better than Key’s.”. Hmm. You have your rose-tinted spectacles on I fear.
       • mickysavage 3.1.2.1

         21 May 2015 at 8:09 pm

         Ah so it was all Helen’s fault …

         I was not criticising I was just explaining why it takes a while for the opposition to get to grips with the budget.
       • felix 3.1.2.2

         21 May 2015 at 8:32 pm

         “When I was a kid the budget was presented on Thursday evening and the rest of the evening was only spent on bills under urgency if they were required to implement budget measures.”

         Ah, it sounds a wonderous and magical childhood.
   • tracey 3.2

     22 May 2015 at 9:03 am

     “the prize for puerility”

     You must cringe when Key speaks in parliament then
4. Realblue 4

   21 May 2015 at 6:18 pm

   Get the feeling Little was looking for his thunder, but Key had stolen it?
   • mickysavage 4.1

     21 May 2015 at 9:01 pm

     Get the feeling National wanted to appear to be Labour like?
     • tracey 4.1.1

       22 May 2015 at 9:04 am

       You would think Nats constituency would be pissed, theoretically (base don Nat’s spin) this is a Labour Party-esque budget and they don’t have a mandate to do a Labour-esque budget
5. Karen 5

   21 May 2015 at 6:22 pm

   Little’s speech was workmanlike rather than inspiring but his transphobic joke at the beginning was unforgivable IMO.

   It is one thing not to support increased surgery because of budget constraints, it is another to make a joke at the expense of vulnerable people. Bad form Mr Little.
   • boyonlaptop 5.1

     22 May 2015 at 1:53 pm

     Thank you. I totally agree and would like to point out to commentators who supported Little in the last leadership election and claimed homophobia was non-existent in Labour should have had a wake up call.

     Little’s comments were deplorable and the reality is if Key had said something similar the Left would be demanding an apology. We should demand the same from Little.
     • te reo putake 5.1.1

       22 May 2015 at 2:02 pm

       “I totally agree and would like to point out to commentators who supported Little in the last leadership election and claimed homophobia was non-existent in Labour should have had a wake up call. ”

       Huh? Who they? I’ve never seen anyone make that comment and nor am I likely to while Damien O’Connor remains an MP. Little has recognised his error and apologised appropriately.

       http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/2/article_16869.php
       • boyonlaptop 5.1.1.1

         22 May 2015 at 2:06 pm

         Good but he still shouldn’t have made the joke in the first place.
         • te reo putake 5.1.1.1.1

           22 May 2015 at 2:15 pm

           Yep.
6. Nordy 6

   21 May 2015 at 7:10 pm

   Little’s good, direct speech was full of substance – something we aren’t used from Key & Co. A continuation of the real thinking about the future and what is needed for our country we have seen from Labour and other parties on the left.

   Whether he is or isn’t ‘inspiring’ is really of no consquence – substance and hard work for all New Zealanders is what he provides ans what we need.

   No wonder he worrys the ‘right’.
7. SHG 7

   21 May 2015 at 7:17 pm

   That speech of Little’s may just be the worst speech I’ve heard from a NZ politician… ever. Whoever wrote those words should be taken out the back and disappeared, and any text he or she has ever come near should be burned lest it infect other documents.
   • mickysavage 7.1

     21 May 2015 at 8:30 pm

     Que?

     Every speech I have heard from Key is way worse. Of course I am biased and am prepared to admit this …
   • the pigman 7.2

     21 May 2015 at 8:46 pm

     “may just be the worst speech I’ve heard from a NZ politician… ever.

     Do you even politics? I guess you’ve never heard Melissa Lee speak in parliament…
     • SHG 7.2.1

       21 May 2015 at 11:31 pm

       I guess you’ve never heard Melissa Lee speak in parliament

       Yeah, true. But at least Lee didn’t use gender reassignment as a punchline.
       • tracey 7.2.1.1

         22 May 2015 at 9:05 am

         do you ever listen to Key’s speeches?
8. David 8

   21 May 2015 at 7:42 pm

   Ok speech from Little but the attack on transgender was way out of order, as were his comments earlier in the week. He needs to remember he is not the Act leader.
   • Clemgeopin 8.1

     22 May 2015 at 10:53 am

     I agree with you. I think Little was trying (badly) to express the view that the RW pro wealthy, pro capitalist National who are usually anti worker and anti beneficiaries were suddenly transforming/realigning themselves with a few socialist looking measures. I suspect that is why he used the ‘realignment reference’. An ill-advised, easily misunderstood phrase/comparison as used by Little.

     In the rest of the speech he did make good and strong points. It would be preferable to keep the speech sharp, focused and to the point, rather than trying to stretch it to the available 20 minutes by repeating points already made.
9. tinfoilhat 9

   21 May 2015 at 8:45 pm

   Listened to them all as well as the minor party leaders and couldn’t help but think how poorly we are served by our political ‘leaders’ in this country.
   • Colonial Rawshark 9.1

     21 May 2015 at 9:28 pm

     Scotland has the population of NZ, roughly, and they come out with remarkable political speakers like Sturgeon and Salmond.
     • DoublePlusGood 9.1.1

       22 May 2015 at 8:49 am

       And Mhairi Black!
     • tracey 9.1.2

       22 May 2015 at 9:07 am

       Scotland has a population of 5,295,000. So all the orators are in that extra 700,000.

       😉
10. infused 10

    21 May 2015 at 11:07 pm

    God that was bad.
11. whateva next? 11

    21 May 2015 at 11:29 pm

    I don’t know how Little keeps his cool sitting opposite that bunch of crooks, doubt any of us could do any better to express our disgust at their lack of integrity in a coherent way.
12. Clean_power 12

    22 May 2015 at 9:35 am

    A too angry and too repetitive speech by Andrew Little. Sharper skills are needed to defeat National and Key in the House. Little’s speech was underwhelming and unbecoming of a Labour leader.
13. whateva next? 13

    22 May 2015 at 10:47 am

    I didn’t have any problems with Little’s speech at all, found myself relieved someone was saying what so many of us feel, once again.
    I have alot of problems with people in their armchairs nitpicking, instead of supporting the enormous effort to rid society of this tribe of greedy parasites, it’s not going to be easy, so why sweat the small stuff?
14. Grantoc 14

    22 May 2015 at 3:58 pm

    Little’s speech overall was not very good.

    He’d been blindsided by the budget announcements and didn’t have fall back speech to deliver.

    There was no real rebuttal of the government; just a series of poor taste and cliched jokes and a number of overblown platitudes. It was uninspiring.

    I think he was out thought, out maneuvered and out of his depth.

• Comments are now closed

• Log in
• Donate
• Contribute post

• Articles RSS