David
PARKER
Spokesperson for Finance

7 November 2012 MEDIA STATEMENT
Deficit up, National’s credibility down

National’s economic credibility has again been dented with news that the $2.1 billion Government deficit (obegal) for the latest quarter is $450 million worse – 27% - than expected, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson David Parker.

“National’s economy is stagnating. Yesterday’s news was that full-time employment is down. Manufacturing is struggling. Exports are down. That is why the tax take is down.

“Less tax that is a sure sign that businesses aren’t growing and working Kiwis aren’t earning.

“National’s deficit is $450 million worse than expected - they were off by 27 per cent. Their economic credibility is further damaged.

“This should come as no surprise given that National’s main economic initiative for this three years was to sell our state assets, and even that is off the rails.
“National is seriously mismanaging the economy. We see the evidence every day. Businesses are being sold overseas or shut down, jobs are being outsourced or cut, and a thousand Kiwis are leaving for Australia every week.

“The only thing that’s growing in this country is the Christchurch rebuild, on the back of tragedy and insurance inflows that even this Government can’t claim credit for.

“John Key promoted himself as the man to run the economy well. The evidence is clear today that his ideas aren’t working.

“Kiwis are realising what a disappointment this Government is.”

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>