The public sector should not be attacked for the poor state of the Government’s books when the real reason for the economy’s parlous state is economic mismanagement, Green Party state sector spokesperson Keith Locke said today.
The Green Party was responding Finance Minister Bill English who signalled on-going cuts to public services and jobs in his speech today.
“The public service that Bill English plans to cut was at the forefront of our response to the Christchurch earthquake,” said Mr Locke.
“While the Government talks about the importance of a knowledge economy, NIWA scientists are facing losing their jobs.
“There are alternatives. The Government could use a small temporary levy to help fund the Christchurch rebuild and introduce a capital gains tax to raise revenue and avoid service cuts.
“The Key Government has made poor economic decisions that have contributed to the current deficit,” said Mr Locke.
“Last year’s tax cuts to the wealthiest New Zealanders were unaffordable. The Government has had to borrow to pay for them.
“Austerity measures in Britain and other European nations have been very unpopular. This week over 400,000 people took to the streets in London to protest unfair spending cuts, and the Green and Social Democrats have just toppled the Christian Democrats in the German state of Baden-Wurttemburg.
“The National Government’s only economic plan seems to be cutting jobs,” said Mr Locke.