David CUNLIFFE
Finance Spokesperson
31 October 2011

Business survey damns National’s lack of a plan

The business community has provided a damning commentary on National’s under-performance as an economic manager, saying the Government has no clear plan to lift New Zealand’s performance, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson David Cunliffe.

The Deloitte-BusinessNZ survey, presented to business leaders at the Deloitte-BusinessNZ Election Conference in Wellington today, has called on the next government to provide a clearer blueprint to lift the country's economic performance and to involve business more in its implementation, David Cunliffe said.

“Labour has been saying for almost three years now that this is a rudderless government,” David Cunliffe said. “National has spent that three years without an economic plan, and even the recent downgrade by two of the international credit agencies hasn’t sharpened its mind.

“Two-thirds of business respondents to the survey don’t think or are unsure that the National has a clear plan to lift the country’s performance.

“That’s a damning indictment,” David Cunliffe said.

“While Labour does not expect the business community to support all Labour’s policies, one thing we are not hearing from business is that Labour hasn’t got a plan.

“That’s because Labour certainly does have a cohesive plan, and it will be prepared to work with the business community to implement it in the best interests of a high-growth, export-based economy that delivers jobs and high wages,” David Cunliffe said.

“It is also more than interesting that another strong ingredient of the survey is a belief in the business community that New Zealand needs a comprehensive savings and superannuation policy, with more than 80 per cent of businesses saying it is time to look at the eligibility age for New Zealand Superannuation.

“Labour strongly agrees. That’s why Labour announced last week we will gradually increase the age of eligibility for New Zealand Super from 65 to 67 years. It will be done over 12 years between 2020 and 2033, giving people time to plan.

“National has not had the courage to take the tough decisions. That’s why it hasn’t got a plan.

“The business community has worked John Key out, and they don’t like what they are seeing and hearing,” David Cunliffe said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media