No, he meant “infrastructure”, he really, really did

Written By: - Date published: 3:47 pm, March 7th, 2008 - 27 comments
Categories: national, spin - Tags: ,

AYB’s confidence in English as a frontman for National may already have taken a knock as the second half of the dynamic duo has successfully managed his own John Key moment within hours of taking over the reins.

When asked on NewstalkZB today whether National would borrow money to pay for tax cuts English managed this:

We’ve always said we have a credible programme of tax cuts which we phase in to match macroeconomic conditions. Ah, we’ve always said, we aren’t that worried about, um, whether the Crown needs to borrow a bit of money.

Got that? National will borrow money to pay for tax cuts. I don’t think I need to spell out the problems with this plan.

And it seems English’s spindoctors really didn’t want it spelled out. Within minutes of English finishing the interview they were claiming he was talking about “infrastructure” not tax cuts and franticly pleading with Newztalk political editor Barry Soper to drop the interview.

I’ve gotta say, there’s a pattern starting to form here. As I recall APN has a pretty big stake in Newztalk’s parent company, The Radio Network, perhaps someone could make another call to the CEO and get a “correction”.

Update: Sources close to English say he meant Australian tax cuts.

Update to the update: and that he was joking.

Update to the updated update: or that he never said it.

27 comments on “No, he meant “infrastructure”, he really, really did ”

  1. Patrick 1

    They are trying so hard to hide their policy, it’s so painful watching it slowly drip out under their own incompetence.

  2. Horisthebear 2

    Ah shock announcement IrishBill…technically Cullen is going to do the same…don’t believe me then look at the forecast Government bond tender programme it has borrowing continuing and fresh lending forecast. It makes a mockery of Cullens comments for his 4 conditions to convienently hide behind.

    More the issue is what the cash from the funds borrowed go to and whether it is better for the Govt to borrow the funds and pay for it via taxes or someone else to do it instead. If it borrowed to invest in real productive assets that is one thing but if it is on wasted social programmes or to buy $500m of dumb things that is stupid eg. investing in badly run trains (there is not a single govt in the world that runs train networks efficiently). I’ve worked for three Govts in three different countries on related issues.

  3. IrishBill 3

    Horis, I’m not shocked at all by the statement and never said I was. Perhaps you should try another strawman argument. This post is not about borrowing for tax cuts (I couldn’t be arsed going into the detail of why it is a bad idea, after all it is Friday arvo). The post is about Bill English letting out policy he knows won’t be liked and then trying to claw it back in.

    Note: this post is tagged as “National” and “Spin” because it’s about National’s highly tuned (and expensive) spin machine failing.

  4. Sam Dixon 4

    HoristheBear- As old bonds expire, new bonds are issued.

    The Government always issues some debt; sovereign debt is an important part of a functioning financial market. The Labour government brought down gross debt from 30% first to a target of 25%, then 20%. Now gross debt is below that 20% target.

    So, yes, any government will always be issuing new debt to keep debt levels where they want them, but that’s something entirely different from borrowing (ie increasing debt) to fund tax cuts.

    captcha: losses assumed

  5. To be fair, he said it depended on cyclical conditions, which is a fair argument for ‘temporary’ borrowing. The correct level of taxation runs surpluses when the country is growing above its long run rate and deficit when it is growing below its long run rate.

    If tax cuts need to be introduced (as both National and Labour have said they should be), and we are moving into a cyclical downturn in the economy, it seems fair that the government will have to borrow money to pay for the tax cuts. As long as they can pay back the money when the economy expands we are away laughing.

  6. Steve Pierson 6

    National is talking about increasing debt to pay for tax cuts. That’s stupid. It’s like talking out a loan to buy the groceries, you just have to take out another loan next week, and the one after.

    debt levels should be held at the low levels they are now at. The only reason to raise them would be to fund investment, something that is going to result in a return on the cost of borrowing.

  7. IrishBill 7

    For crying out loud. The post isn’t about tax cuts but about political (mis)management. Please, try to stay on thread.

  8. Ari 8

    I would’ve thought that the actual undesirability of the comment goes hand in hand with whether it was political mismanagement, personally.

  9. Steve Pierson 9

    Sorry, Irish. Please don’t beat me.

    Yup, that’s a week of shoddy politics by National. They forgot the first rule of being Tories – don’t never tell your plans to people who might not like to hear it, save those comments for meetings with business people and the vague nice stuff for the public. And when you get caught, try to slip out of it.

  10. Boy Wonder gropes feverishly at Bat Utility Belt for Bat Memory Spray, only to find the Caped Crusader has already used up the whole can.

  11. Horisthebear 11

    OK – IrishB point taken. This is common by parties (both have done it). When I worked in Parliament (I worked for one side of the house my wife the other…) it was common to ‘leak’ a story to see how people reacted on a policy idea. What should be done is actually allow both parties to release discussion documents and openly discuss the merits of the policies. Doing by press release is just faster.

  12. higherstandard 12

    Steve if you think the first rule only applies to National you are delusional

  13. IrishBill 13

    Horis, I agree with you about discussion of policies but not about this being a strategic leak. There is no way English would brook the embarrassment of this error just to leak policy, especially when there are dozens of cleaner ways to do it.

  14. indeed IB, many many better ways to do it

  15. infused 15

    There is no problem with borrowing. Labour will have to do it as well. You guys are trying to make a deal of any little thing you can now huh? It’s quite funny to watch. It’s like you’re sitting there with your eyes held open.

    captcha: newsmen right

  16. K Douglas 16

    You would think that the nats would get it right on Tax Cuts (they’ve had 3 years to work on the lines) it’s their only policy.

  17. Dean 17

    “Got that? National will borrow money to pay for tax cuts. I don’t think I need to spell out the problems with this plan.”

    Is that literally all you’ve got besides the lower wages quote? Are you guys reduced to pasting quotes to win your idealogical argument?

    “Yup, that’s a week of shoddy politics by National. They forgot the first rule of being Tories – don’t never tell your plans to people who might not like to hear it, save those comments for meetings with business people and the vague nice stuff for the public.”

    Is that anything like the haters and wreckers or last cab of the rank remarks? Or is it only National leaders that make mistakes?

    I mean, I knew you guys were fans, but you are clearly in the realm of being a sycophant. It’s quite pathetic.

  18. Ari 18

    Infused: There’s no problem with borrowing to support investment. Tax cut is the very opposite of investment, it’s effectively paying out your investors, and borrowing for that sort of thing is incredibly poor fiscal management, and at BEST it’s unsustainable.

  19. David S. 19

    “We would love to see wages drop. The way we want to see wages increase is because productivity is greater. So people can afford more. Not just inflationary reasons, otherwise it’s a bit of a vicious circle as it comes back to you in higher interest rates. We really want to drive that out.’

    It seems to me Key was saying that he thinks wages are too high right now, presumably as a result of minimum wage increases, and that it’s his opinion that increases in wage should come as a result of economic growth instead. So yeah, he wants wages to drop, since they’ve been “artificially” increased, then grow as a result of increases in productivity. An opinion most of the right would probably agree with.

    Of course, that doesn’t cover the whole “I was talking about Australia” BS.

  20. ak 20

    Q: What do you get when you stick a thin slippery mask on a heartless reactionary ideology?

    A: Glimpses:
    “We will borrow to fund tax cuts”, “We will privatise our schools”,”The war is over”, “People can go down the road to the cheaper doctor”, “We would love to see wages drop”, “We’ll abolish the fee cap for doctors”, “We’ll give the meat companies $200mill”, “Climate change is not proven”, “We love the Maori Party but will annihilate it”

    With apologies, I am moved to verse:

    HMS Glimpse:

    Oh what a hideous hulk we see
    behind the brightly painted Quay
    The grinning standard tight concealed
    while Press gangs plough the owners’ fields.
    The widows’ tears of past forgotten
    as Slippery John bestruts the rotten
    planks of woe and horror below:
    simpering slut of king cargo.

    But deep in ancient and caulk and teak
    pernicious nature change doth wreak
    and God’s great hand works soft and true
    to keep His bounty from the Few
    and as of yore His will prevails
    through lesser creations’ travails –
    as worm and rat – (so cruelly hated,
    by armies of tory constipated)
    fulfil their heavenly designation
    (on minimum wage and paltry ration)
    and scuttle the gains of others’ blood –
    fingering dykes won’t stop this flood!

    So watch, dear tories, as history marches on. And be reassured by the fact that those whom you now despise will prevail: for they will have more compassion for your descendants than you ever would have.

    And thus,

  21. higherstandard 21

    Outstanding ak

    I disagree with your ideology but well done.

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-28T08:17:24+00:00