Treasury makes New Zealand’s stark future plain, says PEC
Congratulations to John Whitehead for his characteristically candid report on the few remaining options we have unless
there is radical change, says PEC spokesperson Selwyn Pellett.
“Treasury’s 2009 ‘40 year outlook’ report delivers a message that basically says: "grow up New Zealand, the soft options
have gone". We just hope our politicians have the wisdom to read it from cover to cover and absorb the reality it
portrays,” says Pellett.
“What it doesn’t do is talk of radical change in how we could increase our income and of course that's where exporters
are so critical to our future and solving this imbalance.”
“Farming exports can't double and yet our need for foreign currency and tax revenue will. We need a paradigm shift as a
country in how we invest in technology as that's the only way we can bridge the growing gap between income and
expenditure,” says Pellett.
“We are a small, smart and nimble country and we are being forced to play by big, dumb and clumsy rules. That's not a
winning formula and so mums and dads need to think hard about how much debt they wish to inflict on their children,” he
says.
“The better alternative is to start investing in Nation building activities instead of this perpetual focus on
consumption. We can ensure our children have better options left to them than has been left by the self indulgent baby
boomers around the world.”
“We need to build a generation that aspires to be socially responsible capitalists. Where business grows up supporting
the people in its community and the community grows up knowing that the business success is their success,” says
Pellett.
“We have never seen this equitable balance and without it our chances of significantly changing our future are slim.”
“The reality is that one generation must pay the price of fixing the previous generation’s folly. Unless they stand to
benefit from the outcome it’s a hard sell for any political party. Going without now for no gain in the future doesn't
wash, but go without now for a better future for your children and grandchildren just might,” says Pellett.
ENDS