Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Sharing the benefits of economic growth

Sharing the benefits of economic growth


David Cunliffe’s signal that a new government will have a plan for our industries and ensure that the benefits of economic growth will be better shared is welcome news for workers, FIRST Union said today.

David Cunliffe today set out Labour’s broad agenda for the economy at a speech in Auckland.

“Any economic recovery must not continue to concentrate wealth at the top of the pile. We need a plan to boost workers’ incomes and create and retain good jobs as well as dedicated economic development plans for our industries,” FIRST Union General Secretary Robert Reid said.

“While the figures for some primary production sector manufacturing are improving, other sectors are going backwards. There is no overall plan for manufacturing for New Zealand. Such a plan must include a meaningful government programme around procurement.”

“Wood processing is a classic example of an industry that needs to be firing up to meet the needs of the Canterbury rebuild and government house building programmes.

“Instead the industry is laying off workers and two major processors have fallen into receivership in the past six months.”

“Exporters of raw logs are making good money, but New Zealand is not fully capitalising on the processing side of one of our largest industries – forestry. New Zealanders deserve a more ambitious strategy for our economic development than simply being exporters of unprocessed or marginally processed primary products.”

“Workers need to be at the heart of our economy not an afterthought, but National has run the economy for a privileged few,” Robert Reid said.

Ends.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.