$500,000 Don Brash taskforce an utter waste
This week’s report from the 2025 National Government Taskforce set up in July by John Key and Rodney Hide and led by Don Brash presents a totally discredited economic recipe that was roundly rejected by New Zealanders in the 1990s.
The recommendations are appalling including slashing the income of people on the minimum wage by $100 pw while lifting the income of those at the top. Cabinet ministers, for example, would earn an extra $630 pw.
I highlighted this gross unfairness in a speech in Napier this week. The recommendations would send living conditions for most New Zealanders spiralling downwards driving low income earners into poverty while a wealthy elite would make a killing.
John Key must have known Don Brash would inevitably regurgitate his extreme and discredited views instead of taking the opportunity to take a genuine and fresh look at ways to lift New Zealand’s wealth. But is there a cunning plan?
By having reports produced which he can reject as too radical John Key can then promote less extreme but still painful reforms that will transfer wealth away from ordinary New Zealanders to the wealthy. And of course you will be expected to be relieved and grateful for that!
It is time John Key put an end to this expensive sham. He should disband the Taskforce and not waste the hundreds of thousands of dollars which is budgeted for a Taskforce whose recommendations the Government says it will not implement.
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Johnny goes lately to Copenhagen
John Key should have agreed long ago to go to Copenhagen next week where 100 world leaders will decide on actions to combat climate change. Instead, his decision to go at the last minute is a flip-flop.
As recently as two weeks ago he was dismissing the conference as nothing more than a ‘photo op’. He was forced to change his mind this week when it became obvious the rest of the world would be there and how bad it would look for New Zealand for its PM not to be present.
You can understand his reluctance. His government has imposed on New Zealand a dog of an Emissions Trading Scheme that has been pilloried as being ineffective, hugely expensive and unfair on taxpayers.
It is damaging to New Zealand that it is not being seen as taking this issue seriously. Key is on record as calling climate change a hoax – and many in his caucus agree with him. For Kiwi exporters and tourism operators, New Zealand not backing its brand as clean, green and environmentally sustainable risks damaging our image overseas.
The shabby deal cooked up thanks to the Maori Party u-turn on climate change does nothing to penalise polluters from polluting. It removes the incentive for them to cut emissions, while dumping the lion’s share of the costs of the scheme – $110 billion – onto the taxpayer. No wonder Mr Key was reluctant to front up in Copenhagen.
Maori Party leaders rolled by their Northland MP
This week saw a half-pie apology from Hone Harawira for his email containing incendiary language last month in which he tried to justify holidaying in Paris when he was being funded by the taxpayer to work in Brussels.
The fallout exposed huge divisions in the Maori Party. Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples had made it clear they wanted him out of the Party, but in the end they backed down.
And many grass roots supporters indicated how uncomfortable they are about backing National.
The sweetheart deal on the ETS went completely against the Party’s criticism of the Bill not protecting the environment. Their flip-flop is seen as not delivering for the majority of people they claim to represent. The deal compounded the Maori Party’s surprise support for ACC legislation which will harm ordinary New Zealanders, Pakeha and Maori alike.
Many are now questioning whether the Maori Party is in touch with its followers.
Health costs rising
National boasted it would make health services better, sooner and more convenient.
Here’s what they have actually done so far. They have signed off on a proposal to increase GP charges by 6.5 percent, slashed elective surgery funding through ACC and cut nearly two dozen frontline health services.
One year into government we are seeing reports in the media that more New Zealanders are putting off going to the doctor because of the cost.
Results found the number of people who visited their GP when they felt unwell fell from 64 per cent in 2008 to 56 per cent this year.
If people cannot afford to see a GP then that will have significant problems for New Zealand hospitals further down the line. GPs can often help someone with a health issue before it becomes serious. People not seeking out primary health care is damaging to health and costly in economic terms.
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