NATIONAL’S ‘SLASH AND BURN’ PLAN WILL HIT MIDDLE AND LOW INCOME KIWIS
The news that the Government is planning to axe even more jobs in the public service is further evidence that National’s only plan for this economy is to slash and burn.
We’ve heard Bill English and John Key blaming the Canterbury earthquake for the fact our economy is in trouble. That’s not true. The economy was going backwards under National long before the quake hit on February 22.
The Government is just using the disaster as an excuse to take the hatchet to programmes like Working for Families, Kiwisaver and interest-free student loans which they didn’t really support but promised before the election not to cut. That’s the absolute wrong approach to take. Why would you hammer middle and low income families in tough economic times, when they’re already struggling to pay the bills?
John Key claims he’ll only trim money from those at the top end who are receiving Working for Families. But to make any real savings, he would need to cut payments to couples where the combined household income is probably around $80,000 and that’s the equivalent of two people earning less than the average wage each, while supporting children. Why is he hammering middle New Zealand while he continues to hold on to tax cuts of $1000 a week to people on his income band?
If savings really have to be made, surely those on the top incomes who got huge windfall gains from October tax cuts could give some of that back. Clearly the economy couldn’t afford National’s tax cuts for the wealthy. If you want to get the economy going, helping middle and low income people struggling to make ends meet, not further cutting their incomes, would be a good place to start. As BERL economist Ganesh Nana says slash and burn will just push New Zealand further into recession.
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THE FIGHT BACK BEGINS
It’s been a tough week or two.
This week we lost a senior colleague from parliament. It hurts and it’s a setback and I regret the circumstances that led to that.
But I want you to know I’m determined to keep focussed on jobs, on the cost of living, and on owning our future. Because New Zealand needs a Labour Government.
I know how hard Labour people work, even when we’re in adversity.
Dedicated men and women contribute what they can because we share beliefs in a New Zealand that has a place for everyone.
Giving everyone a fair go, making the economy work for you, creating jobs and opportunities for our children, making sure Kiwis own our future.
Our values are enduring. That’s why we fight.
Yesterday the Labour front bench met in Dunedin and talked about issues that make a difference to hardworking families.
We’re ramping up our campaign against asset sales.
Our electricity companies could end up foreign-owned, with the profits going overseas and higher prices for local families. The assets that were sold in the 80s and 90s ended up being run down. Kiwis ended up paying more and getting worse service.
Next week I’m speaking at a public meeting organised by Labour’s West Auckland MPs to campaign against selling our power companies.
Those assets were built up by generations of New Zealanders. If the National Government gets away with selling our power companies, they’ll soon be back to sell NZ Post and Kiwibank.
If you would like to come along, the meeting is at 7.30PM on 4 April at the old Waitakere City Council Chambers.
I’m getting stuck in. Thanks for standing by us, and thanks for working with other Kiwis who care about where New Zealand is going.
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