1. CRAIG FOSS (National—Tukituki) Link to this
to the Minister of Finance
What steps is the Government taking to help New Zealanders get ahead as the economy recovers?
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance) Link to this
The Government is focused squarely on developing a stronger economy, because it is the only way that New Zealand can create new jobs, higher incomes, and more opportunities. We will achieve that when business has the confidence to invest, expand, and hire new people, and when people with appropriate skills are available for those jobs. At the weekend the Prime Minister announced a fair and balanced employment package, aimed at creating jobs and boosting economic growth. This package will give more people the chance to access the job market and more businesses the confidence to create new jobs. It is one more step on the road to recovery.
One of the main features is extending the 90-day trial period for new employees to all workplaces. This will give employees a shot at work and will provide employers with the confidence to hire them. Employers have generally acted responsibly and workers have been treated fairly. This policy is a moderate step compared with the policies of Britain and Australia, both of which have longstanding probationary periods of between 6 months and 1 year. The Government is also making several other changes to the Employment Relations Act in line with the commitments National made in its 2008 manifesto.
Hon David Cunliffe Link to this
Does helping New Zealanders to get ahead include raising their power prices, forcing them to pay more to register their cars, lifting accident compensation rates, raising GST, and, on top of that, stripping them of employment protections by having them fired at will with no explanation?
Clearly, the member thinks that helping New Zealanders to get ahead means raising their power prices, because under his Government those prices rose by 72 percent in 9 years. Helping New Zealanders to get ahead involves cutting their taxes, so that there is more reward for work and savings, and it involves boosting business confidence, because that is how we will create new jobs.
The employment measures announced in the weekend are part of the Government’s comprehensive economic programme, which includes investing in infrastructure, getting the public finances in order, providing a more competitive tax system, and generally undoing the damage done by the previous Labour Government. That Government made this economy unbalanced and uncompetitive.
Keith LockeHow much extra will it cost the taxpayer for all the publicly subsidised doctors appointments resulting from allowing employers to demand a medical certificate for only 1 day’s absence from work?
Hon David Cunliffe Link to this
What aspect of the Government’s so-called comprehensive economic programme will deliver the so-called step change that it promised, given that it has been forced to abandon mining on the Coromandel and on Great Barrier Island? Is it the cycleway to nowhere, the Job Summit with no point, the 9-day fortnight that did not last as long as that, or the rolling maul that is a few forwards short of becoming a real scrum?
It is the comprehensive economic package that the Government is pursuing, and if I can draw attention simply to one aspect of it, it is our multibillion-dollar investment in infrastructure, which is keeping thousands of people in work and retaining skills in New Zealand. For instance, over half of all non-residential building permits in the last 3 months were issued for public sector projects—the highest percentage in 20 years. So the Government is not only helping New Zealanders through the early stages of a recovery by providing jobs through infrastructure investment but building a platform for a much stronger economy and more jobs.
What reports has the Minister seen on the Government’s measures to support jobs and create faster economic growth?
I can quote one opinion from one of our daily newspapers, which described the reform of personal grievance dispute procedures as “sensible” and “long overdue”. It also stated that the Government’s employment law package was “measured” and “will introduce greater coherence and flexibility into employment law.” I have also seen a report about the Government’s infrastructure programme. Pacifecon’s latest survey of construction sector activity found that four-fifths of big construction jobs are being funded by the Government. That is a significant contribution to many households in New Zealand and also to building a platform for a strong economy and new jobs.