Judith Collins MP National Party Welfare Spokeswoman

6 November 2008

National's plan for growth critical for jobless

National Party Welfare spokeswoman Judith Collins says figures showing another increase in unemployment underline the importance of New Zealand voting for a National-led Government that has a plan to grow the economy.

"Labour has a spending plan. They do not have a growth plan. National has released a comprehensive plan for a brighter future with a strong emphasis on economic growth."

Figures released today show unemployment has increased over the first three quarters of 2008. At 4.2%, the unemployment rate is now above 4% for the first time since June 2004.

"When unemployment spiked earlier this year, Labour responded by saying it 'was not bad news at all, actually'. That contradicted the views of senior economists who described the figures as 'very grim' and 'an absolute shocker'.

"With regular monotony Labour claimed sole credit for low unemployment, but I expect today's negative figures will be blamed on the international conditions.

Ms Collins says the forecasts of rising unemployment were around long before the current international turmoil.

"Labour has coasted along on the back of some of the best economic conditions for a generation, but they are a fair-weather government that has delivered up a decade of deficits and rising government debt.

"The public can have no confidence that Labour's 'promise and hope' campaign will do anything to get our economy growing again, and it is growth that will provide jobs for the job hunters.

"National does have a firm plan for growth and lifting living standards. We will also protect the vulnerable in tougher times, and bring forward tax cuts for workers to give them a little more in their pockets when they, and the economy, need it.

"We will invest in infrastructure to unclog the bottlenecks in our economy, reduce red tape, and bring discipline to government spending.

"National is ambitious for New Zealand and determined to focus on the issues that matter."

ENDS

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