Samoa and Tonga
Last week’s visit to Samoa and Tonga in the wake of the tsunami reinforced the close relationship the Labour Party and New Zealand has with each nation, and the concerns felt by the Pasifika communities and all Kiwis at the recent tragic events there.
In Samoa, I along with Winnie Laban and Chris Carter, visited communities devastated by the tsunami, listened to their stories and were warmly thanked for the huge helping hand offered by the New Zealand community. We had a two-hour meeting with Samoan PM Tuilaepa, Deputy PM Misa Telefoni, other ministers and NGOs working on the ground.
We heard ideas about how New Zealand can help further, which we passed onto the NZ High Commission.
In Tonga, discussions also included the Royal Commission on the sinking of the Princess Ashika and the constitutional reforms underway. We had a long meeting with the Tongan King HM King George Tupou V, meetings with PM Feleti Sevele and several other Cabinet ministers.
It was good to renew and strengthen relationships with leaders and communities in both countries. We discussed wide-ranging issues from trade and development to climate change and the situation in Fiji.
The people there are resilient and will rebuild their lives with our help.
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Govt ignoring jobless
Figures just out showing the number of Kiwis out of work jumping 12,000 in three months to 150,000 should give National real pause for thought.
These are bad figures and demonstrate that many Kiwi families are hurting.
Not only is the jobless number at its highest since 1994, there are 122,000 other Kiwis underemployed – that is they are working reduced hours or have been forced into part time jobs.
This government does not have a plan to get New Zealand out of the recession. It is sitting on the sidelines while more and more hardworking Kiwis see themselves going backwards.
Even Rodney Hide has admitted this government is doing nothing – in an embarrassing incident in Christchurch when he was caught out telling the truth.
Contrast this government’s approach with Australia, where the government has invested in skills and training.
Australian unemployment is stabilising – while ours has overtaken it and the gap is widening.
ACC and SuperFund come to the rescue
New data showing a $2 billion government revenue/spending operating deficit in three months is sobering. It reveals lower profits for businesses and a consequent reduction in tax revenue.
But when you take into account gains made by ACC and the SuperFund that deficit is reduced markedly to $175 million.
The SuperFund is now worth more than $15 billion, $1.4 billion or 400 per cent better than forecast at Budget time. And ACC’s portfolio has been boosted by $700 million as world share markets rebound.
These gains shows how short-sighted National has been deferring Government contributions to Super for a decade and casting doubt on the future viability of ACC.
Labour continues to urge the Government to reverse its decision to suspend payments into the SuperFund. Our ability to meet commitments to retired New Zealanders and maintain their entitlements in the future relies on it.
National has its head in the sand if it believes otherwise.
ACC
The recent gains in ACC are further proof of the Government’s manufactured ACC ‘crisis’.
Despite Nick Smith’s scaremongering the gap between ACC’s assets and liability has already begun to decrease. It already has nearly $12 billion in assets and last year collected $1 billion more in levies than it spent on claims.
And recent figures from the Dept of Statistics showing that under Labour the number of total work related injuries fell over each of the last three years show that injury prevention policies are working. This contradicts National’s efforts to paint a picture of doom and gloom.
National is in trouble not only on its proposals to hugely increase moter vehicle levies, up 300 per cent in the case of motorbikes, but also for its cuts in services. Even before they have legislated for changes, they have cut back on vital services such as trauma counselling for victims of sexual abuse.
National’s ACC changes will result in higher costs for less protection and their privatisation proposals will make big Australian insurance companies wealthy at our expense.
New Zealand has the world’s best accident compensation scheme and Labour will be fighting hard to keep it that way.
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