Wave goodbye to National’s last promise
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9:20 am, June 19th, 2012 - 15 comments
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The last time Treasury did an economic and fiscal update outside of its use two-per-year schedule, was December 2008, the depth of the recession. So, it’s telling that, just 4 weeks after the Budget, Treasury is looking at doing a revision of its numbers. One thing is certain, National’s last economic (actually, fiscal) promise- surplus in 2014/15 – is out the window. So, what’s National’s goal now?
It’s looking increasingly like they don’t have any. They’re just ‘muddling through’, under-delivering on their growth, jobs, debt promises, and completely failing to close the gap with Australia. Their focus now is on forcing through some more favours for their mates – asset sales, irrigation subsidies, attacks on local democracy – in the two years they have left.
Time for a government with a worthwhile vision and the policies to get us there.
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The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...3 days ago
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The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...3 days ago
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The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...3 days ago
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The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...3 days ago
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Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...4 days ago
- Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...4 days ago
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Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...4 days ago
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State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...4 days ago
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The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...4 days ago
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Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...5 days ago
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Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...5 days ago
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“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...5 days ago
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Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...5 days ago
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Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...5 days ago
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Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 23 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...6 hours ago
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I think I heard something on Morning Report this morning about Key saying that they may just have to accept the fact that they won’t get the surplus in 2014/2015, due to issues outside their control (eg, Europe).
Shearer was quoted as saying that Key is ‘shifting the goal posts’ on their economic achievements.
So basically Jon Key went to Europe to learn more about the financial situation in Europe but didn’t bother to tell Blinglish that we may as well go on a holiday for the next five years because nobody can afford to buy our shit as it all goes to shit and now that Bollard has come out about shit happening in Europe our bankster PM has to go along but I’m sure he’s OK with that.
I dont know why we have a government. the minister of finance has absolutley no control of finance or our dollar, any excuse to fob off responsibility for phucking the economy . first it was the world finacial recession, then the christchurch earthquakes, now the european bailout(which, like the first excuse was caused by bankers being wankers). key and english will be praying for an invasion by martians as their next excuse for being incompetent.
You just need to wait until we have another labour government…..Then, you can be sure it will be their fault for every little thing that goes on around the world…..
No excuses will be accepted then…. by the “responsible” national opposition, the herald, or television news programs….
Indeed, the labour party will be responsible for the failure of the current governments policy failures as well….as they weren’t able to save the nats from themselves, which is what any responsible parent should do with off the rails teenagers…
It’s so obvious, I am surprised we havn’t accepted this “reality” yet……
Oh, Paul, nor has Key even yet stopped blaming the last Labour government for everything wrong, that is, four years ago.
But despite all that, it will be business as usual for the failed neo-liberal capitalist experiment.
“So, what’s National’s goal now?”
Sell Sell Sell! Everything Must Go! Final Clearance! Huge Discounts to Mates! Law Changes? No Problem! Free Money? Sure thing!
What else is there to do once the pretence of being an actual government has started to become transparent?
From Karl du Fresne
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/columnists/karl-du-fresne/7127612/Does-Sunny-John-plan-to-stick-around
Effective government means making hard decisions that are bound to upset and even disadvantage some people, but this is altogether too brutal for fair-minded New Zealanders to countenance. So nothing happens, except that we continue to lose 40,000 people a year to Australia.
It has long been apparent that this Government has no compelling philosophical vision. Now it’s becoming obvious it is a poor strategist and political manager too.
Ouch
To be fair… the fourth estate has done a wonderful job of hiding the truth from us……
Their part in this latest round of asset stripping, and repatriation of money back into the hands of the “rightful” owners has been vital……
They have done our “betters” proud……knighthoods are on the way boys….
treasury has its head right up is jacksy.
It is populated by people shoulder tapped from uni who only know how to pull their socks up and wear tight underpants.
They are completely out of touch with anything really.
At least the tight underpants might stop them reproducing. Treasury is a total waste of time – forecasts could be made more accurately by a couple of amateur astrologers.
KeY is demonstrating the techniques he used as a high stakes gambler when he worked for Merrill Lynch which is to talk up a situation, relying on rumour and speculation among his gambling cronies and the ignorance and cupidity of those they wished to con of their money and resources. Then, after grasping the money, finding an excuse why the failure of the Hedge Fund or other ponzi scheme dreamed up in the back room of the casino didn’t deliver the profits because of factors “beyond his control”.
As PM he creates a situation, talks up the positives, cons the public then backs out of commitment to them by creating or discovering a reason for the failure of the policy, Watch the old gambling instinct come to the front even more as things go sour for NACT…. league tables for schools, rein in militant Unions, beware of boat people fleeing from (enter name of country here)…. to distract the audience from the realities.
where did that mock picture of the billboard go? Would like a copy 🙂
Yeah, but considering that we don’t have the power of recall, how do we get a new one?