David Cunliffe
Economic Development Spokesperson

26 September 2012

Absent growth agenda hurts communities

Since Steven Joyce announced his Business Growth Agenda six months ago with a focus on resources and mining, nothing has been done that would help the people of Greymouth, Huntly and Waihi, says Labour’s Economic Development spokesperson David Cunliffe.

“Six months ago Steven Joyce announced his Business Growth Agenda claiming the Government would put business success first. But week after week job cuts are announced and on Monday alone we saw three companies announce 600 jobs losses in just six hours.

“In contrast all we’ve had from Steven Joyce’s agenda in six months are two widely-panned reports packed with re-announcements.

“Where are the other four reports, especially the one on resources? The people of Greymouth, Huntly and Waihi are reeling from job losses in the resources industry but they’ve heard nothing from Steven Joyce’s agenda for six months.

“Steven Joyce today refused to tell Parliament when he will release the report, claiming he doesn’t know the release date. If that’s true what confidence can the people of Greymouth, Huntly, Waihi and indeed all of New Zealand, have that the Minister is on top of his portfolio?

“I’ve seen a perfectly good Resources plan – it was written by the Spring Creek miners to save their mine, but Steven Joyce won’t read it. The Minister’s action displays an extraordinary lack of empathy with the families whose lives have been turned upside down.

“In the six months since Steven Joyce’s Business Growth Agenda over 26,000 people have left for Australia. His BGA stands for Better Go to Australia.

“Steven Joyce began his supposed roll-out of reports with a hiss and a roar, releasing two in a week. But the first one was dismissed and the second ignored because there was nothing in them. It seems the embarrassment of his PR failure has forced the minister to either abandon his approach or come up with ideas.”

ENDS

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