6. Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Labour—New Lynn) Link to this
to the Minister of Finance
Does he stand by all his recent statements?
Hon BILL ENGLISHHon David Cunliffe Link to this
Does the Minister stand by his statement on 10 June 2009 to the New Zealand Herald that “taxpayers are supporting the banks, and we want the banks to be able to demonstrate that they are going to support businesses and households through a tough time in the economy, even if it affects their profits a bit.”, and also his statement on 14 May 2009 to the Press that “it [$4.5 billion] is a big profit and we would expect that in the next financial year they will be less profitable.”?
Hon David Cunliffe Link to this
Does the Minister therefore agree with a statement made on the same day as the first quote, by the Prime Minister, John Key, on One News that “our big aim is that if the Reserve Bank governor does cut rates tomorrow … it flows through to what consumers are paying because in the last cut Alan Bollard made it ended up with the banks and not consumers.”?
As is usually the case, the Prime Minister’s comments are much more insightful and forceful than mine, and, I think, express the political issues very directly and effectively.
Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga Link to this
Does the Minister stand by his statement that Budget 2009 will help New Zealanders through the recession and set this country on the road to recovery?