Fri, 24 Sep 2004

Progressive leader: National could cut super

A National-led government could cut superannuation, saying it will be provided on a 'needs-basis', Progressive leader Jim Anderton says.

He told Dunedin Grey Power 'needs-based superannuation' would result in means testing.

"Don Brash has already said super will be cut for the under-50s. If they can cut it for some, they will soon cut it for others. Why would they make such a fuss about 'needs-based' funding if they weren't going to introduce it?"

Jim Anderton says if National and Act get elected, a return to the poor economic performance of the eighties and nineties would see the government looking for cuts.

"In the eighties and nineties Governments cut superannuation when they didn't have enough money. When the budget is under pressure the knives come out. The reason no one talks about super being cut any more is because the economy is doing better.

"The stronger performance of the New Zealand economy over the last four years has made superannuation more secure. The best way to keep super secure is this: Don't change the government."

Jim Anderton celebrated twenty years in parliament this week, and told Grey Power he is only member of Cabinet born before the Second World War.

"Superannuitants need a representative in Cabinet ? not only in a ministerial sense, like the minister for senior citizens. There needs to be someone who has an understanding of their issues."

The Progressive Party will be campaigning for the party vote in next year's election as a pro-growth and pro-jobs insurance policy.

SPEECH NOTES POSTED AT:

http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1225

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>>