14 August 2003

Hon Jim Anderton MP, Progressive Leader

Greens' Soft-On-Savings Stance Bad For Pension Planning

Progressive leader Jim Anderton says he is disappointed to hear the Green Party's soft-of-drugs stance has now spread to include going soft on retirement savings.

"The Green Party opposed the coalition government's decision to reclassify methamphetamines to a Class A drug earlier this year.

"The Greens last week launched a campaign for cannabis law reform which teachers around the country are saying is a dreadful message for any responsible adult to convey to the young or to the vulnerable.

"Now we have the Greens lining up with National and ACT in an effort to undermine peoples' confidence in the future security of state funded superannuation.

"These parties pretend that New Zealand doesn't need to prudently invest now to secure universal superannuation for the retired of the future," Jim Anderton said.

Parties of the centre-left, Labour and the Progressives, are committed to the universal provision of pensions for all retired people both now and into the future.

The Progressive leader said everyone knows that any future coalition government that includes the ACT party would demolish the universal state superannuation system on principle. Everyone also knows that no future National-led government is possible without ACT Party involvement.

"ACT and National don't believe in saving now to secure future state funded superannuation because they don't agree with such a policy. What ACT and National want is tax cuts now for the rich.

"It is an indictment on the Greens that they allow themselves to play into National and ACT's hands in a campaign of confusion that can only be described as a scare-campaign which might make people feel less secure about the future affordability of state superannuation for all," Jim Anderton said.

ENDS

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