Grant ROBERTSON

Employment spokesperson                        
 
10 March 2013                                                           

MEDIA STATEMENT

Business rejecting Nats hands-off approach
 
National’s hands-off approach to the economy is not only costing thousands of jobs, it’s also losing them the support of business, says Labour’s Employment spokesperson Grant Robertson.
 
“Almost 70 per cent of businesses surveyed by  Ernst &Young say the Government’s approach to job creation is average or poor. That’s a shocking indictment on a government that claims it’s the friend of business.
 
“The same survey showed that 70 per cent of the business community rate the Government’s ability to develop a business growth agenda as poor. Perhaps that’s because Steven Joyce took a year to explain his Business Growth Agenda and it was nothing more than a bunch of glossy re-announcements.
 
“We know the public are losing faith in John Key’s hands-off approach. But now it’s clear business is concerned as well.
 
“And they are right to be worried, a net 30,000 jobs have been lost over the last year. The economy is stagnating, power prices are increasing and the overvalued dollar is crippling exporters and manufacturers. The Government needs to change tack.
 
“Businesses want a Government that will work alongside them and help them get the opportunities they need to grow and create jobs. National has clearly failed to do this.
 
“Labour will take a more hands-on approach and tackle the big issues. We will focus on improving the skills in our workforce such as using our apprenticeships for the dole scheme and training people who lose their jobs. Our KiwiBuild policy to build 100,000 new homes will create significant growth opportunities.
 
“We will change the Reserve Bank’s tunnel-vision mandate of inflation-targeting and give wider scope to take into account jobs and the exchange rate. And we are determined to create a clean, smart and diversified economy that creates opportunities for everyone,” says Grant Robertson.
 
ENDS

© Scoop Media

Arguably Reassuring: Inspector-General Finds GCSB "Arguably" Legal

Of the 88 individuals:

• 15 cases involving 22 individuals did not have any information intercepted by GCSB.

• another four cases involving five individuals were the subjects of a New Zealand Security Intelligence Service warrant and the GCSB assisted in the execution of the warrants. The Inspector-General is of the view that there were arguably no breaches and the law is unclear.

• the Bureau only provided technical assistance which did not involve interception of communications, involving three of the individuals, so no breach occurred.

• the remaining cases involved the collection of metadata, and the Inspector-General formed the view that there had arguably been no breach, noting once again that the law is unclear.
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