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Trans-Tasman wage gap at a record high
David Cunliffe
Labour Leader
25 November 2013
Trans-Tasman wage gap at a record high
The wage gap between Australia and New Zealand has blown out to a record high of more than $210 a week, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says.
“Closing the wage gap was one of John Key’s major election promises, but he been strangely quiet on the issue.
“Who could forget National’s 2008 election slogan: ‘Wave goodbye to higher taxes, not your loved ones.’
The new wage gap figure of $NZ211.51 was calculated by the Parliamentary Library by comparing gross average weekly earnings in Australia and New Zealand, adjusted for purchasing power parity. This OECD comparison method has been used by John Key.
“The wage gap is now the highest on record and has increased by $90 since John Key took office, promising to close the gap.
“The National Government will try to defend its record by using after income tax figures, but this hides the impact of its rise in GST.
“It’s not surprising more than 200,000 Kiwis have moved to Australia under the National Government.
“This hands-off Government has done nothing to reduce the wage gap with Australia. In fact, National’s unfair labour laws are keeping wages down,” David Cunliffe says.
David Cunliffe will leave for Australia tomorrow where he will address the annual Australian New Zealand Leadership forum in Sydney on Wednesday.
ENDS
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