PSA’s Response Predictable

Press Release by Hon Sir Roger Douglas, ACT New Zealand

Wednesday, May 19 2010.

The Public Service Association’s reaction to my discussion document ‘Budget 2010: Combating Government Waste’ is a predictable reaction from a special interest group – as soon as their handouts are threatened, they immediately kick up a fuss, ACT Finance Spokesman Sir Roger Douglas said today.

"If you were to listen to the PSA, the $3.1b identified as government waste – for programmes which are not returning enough value to the taxpayer – is in fact spending on essential programmes that the taxpayer should be happy to cough up for," Sir Roger said.

"This is exactly the type of mantra special interest groups always use – the constant call for more money for ‘essential programmes’ and the use of scaremongering tactics when that money is threatened.

"Some PSA bureaucrats like the fact that low-income New Zealanders are forced to pay to subsidise their tickets to the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Their complaints highlight exactly the point of the discussion document – that special interest groups – including the massive Wellington-based bureaucracy – are sucking the average taxpayer dry to fund their whims and fancies.

"There is always going to be some group that thinks that spending is essential because it shovels taxpayer money into their pockets. The sooner the Government stops pandering to special interest groups such as the PSA, allowing expenditure to be cut and taxes to be lowered, the better off the economy - and all taxpayers - will be," Sir Roger said.

ENDS

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