18 March 2008

National is all flop, no flip on KiwiSaver

Finance Minister Michael Cullen has repeated calls for National to clarify its position on KiwiSaver after Bill English backed away from issuing policy at a superannuation conference today.

Mr English’s speech had been advertised as an opportunity to hear National’s policy stance on KiwiSaver, but the National Finance Spokesman reportedly opened the speech saying there would be no announcement on his Party’s position on the popular scheme.

“Nearly 500,000 New Zealanders are in KiwiSavers and businesses around the country are working hard on the 1 April enhancements to the scheme,” Dr Cullen said.

“No one is waiting for National’s overdue u-turn on KiwiSaver – New Zealanders are getting on with saving for their retirement and building a new culture of savings in our country. But National’s slippery stance on KiwiSaver is looking more and more foolish by the day.

“National has voted against KiwiSaver 40 times, John Key had predicted low take up, and had even explained that he was always for KiwiSaver before he was against it previously and isn’t sure if he supports it now.

“John Key and Bill English are certainly flopping all over the place on KiwiSaver, but they so far have failed to flip.”

ENDS

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