Annette King

Deputy Leader

17 November 2010 Media Statement

Government struck down by reviewitis

The National-led government has become a government of endless meetings, reviews, taskforces, action groups and pilot studies, says Labour Deputy Leader Annette King.

“Last week, Health Minister Tony Ryall boasted that ‘this government was focussed on actions rather than … meetings, strategies, actions plans …’,” Annette King said.

“In fact, in the two years National has been in office it has undertaken 87 reviews at last count.

“That works out at 3.6 a month for every month since it became government.

“Instead of more reviews and gimmicks like the cycleway John Key needs to start delivering for hardworking families.

“The recovery has stalled and prices are rising faster than wages. It’s tough for families and more reviews won’t help them.

“Today in the House John Key and Bill English refused to answer questions on their own performance in setting up so many reviews, instead transferring them to a low ranked minister.

“That’s not good enough. Labour wants real answer to these questions, so will save the question for when Mr Key or Mr English are back.

“We’d like to ask either of them about progress on reviews or strategy groups such as: ‘The Special Prime Minister’s Summit Delivery Unit’, which seems to have sunk without trace.

“Or the ‘Digital Switchover Steering Group’, which was set up in March 2009 then disestablished before springing back to life as two separate review groups – the ‘Intergovernmental Working Group on Digital Switchover’ and the ‘Broadcasting Sector Group’.

“The reality is that this government came into office on the back of big promises, but is failing to deliver for hard-working Kiwis,” Annette King said.

ENDS

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