Is Goff Serious About Waste?

“It is great to hear Phil Goff talking about eliminating waste and duplication in his Mayoral campaign launch,” says Affordable Auckland Mayoral candidate Stephen Berry. “However I have to wonder whether this is meaningless pandering or is he really serious about clipping Council functions back to their core role?”

Phil Goff’s speech covered the need for the Super City to function efficiently. Stephen Berry doesn’t believe this is the language of someone who is serious about dealing with waste. “Mr. Goff had an opportunity to mention specific examples of the Council duplicating services already provided by central government. He could have mentioned areas where the Council operates outside of section 11A of the Local Government Act. He didn’t do either of those things today.”

What Phil Goff did mention as being wasteful is the commission of two reports which identified opportunities for privatisation of Council assets which cost half a million dollars. “This money is only wasted if the Council does not act on its findings. Mr. Goff has made clear that he won’t be selling assets to finance much needed infrastructure and his claim that he will obtain additional funding from central government is fanciful. It would seem that a Goff mayoralty will only continue the high tax and borrowing policies of Len Brown’s term.”

Unlike the other four candidates who have announced they will run for the Mayoralty, Stephen Berry has very clear concise plans to eradicate waste in Auckland Council. “I will restrict the council to only carrying out the core functions required in the Local Government Act. Council duplications of central government functions such as social and employment programs and CCO involvement in the education sector will cease so we can get serious about controlling rates and spending.”

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