31 October 2001

A National Bank report into how the Government's Super Fund will be a drag on growth proves the scheme is all pain and little gain, Opposition Leader Bill English said today.

"Analysis by National Bank economists shows that the rising debt consequences of the Super Fund will lead to a permanent increase in New Zealand's risk premium on long term interest rates.

"This will, in turn, lower New Zealand's economic growth by 0.2% per annum.

"The National Bank economists argue that medium-term fiscal pressures are intensifying and that it will be a struggle for the Government to meet its forecasts. As the debt picture worsens, the risk premium will get larger and the Fund will become an even bigger drag on growth.

"They have even gone so far as to urge the Government to condition the market to the fact that Super Fund contributions may have to be lowered if fiscal objectives are not met.

"It's not hard to see why the Bank's report concludes that the Super Fund 'has little to offer on economic grounds'. Dr Cullen's only answer to New Zealand's economic malaise is in fact going to add to it.

"This report proves that Dr Cullen's 100-year plan is looking increasingly dead in the water before it even gets going. It has all the characteristics of a solution looking for the right sort of problem," Mr English said.

Ends

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>