Friday, 26 November 2004

Dunne applauds National’s superannuation change

United Future leader, Peter Dunne, today welcomed the National Party’s decision to support the Cullen superannuation fund.

“When this fund was established, we said it was the first step towards getting a genuine multi-party accord that will bring certainty to the retirement plans of New Zealanders,” he said.

“There are some issues that are so over-riding they should not become the plaything of politicians with differing agendas – and superannuation is one of those.

“It’s now up to all the other parties in Parliament who have not so far signed up to support the fund to rethink their position.

“National’s decision must be the first step in a bigger and more important process – re-establishing a genuine multi-party Accord on superannuation, and Dr Cullen must now start to move in that direction.

“The outcome can only be good for all New Zealanders,” said Mr Dunne.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On The Government’s Smokefree Laws Debacle

The most charitable explanation for National’s behaviour over the smokefree legislation is that they have dutifully fulfilled the wishes of the Big Tobacco lobby and then cast around – incompetently, as it turns out - for excuses that might sell this health policy U-turn to the public. The less charitable view is that the government was being deliberately misleading. Are we to think Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is a fool, or a liar? It seems rather early on in his term of office to be facing that unpleasant choice. Yet when Luxon (and senior MP Chris Bishop) tried to defend the indefensible with the same wildly inaccurate claim, there are not a lot of positive explanations left on the table.... More