PM Press Conference 20/02/17: Anti-money laundering

Prime Minister Bill English began today’s press conference thanking the emergency services workers who assisted with the flooding in Auckland and Coromandel this weekend. Water is safe to drink in Auckland, but he advises people to still conserve their water consumption. He announced that the progress reports for better services targets set in 2012 have come out and most have met their targets. In regards to crime, the amount of reoffending has gone up. Today the government announced anti-money laundering and terrorist financing laws and a family and whanau violence act. Mr English also mentioned that he will be in Sydney tomorrow for a private graduation ceremony.

Questions began with a focus on changes to Working For Families and the IRD system changes. Mr English stated that, before any changes are made to WFF, the government will consider all spending options such as paying down debt and building infrastructure. He stated that finding will not be cut from Working For Families.

A concern was raised that the damage costs after the Kaikoura earthquake may “cancel out” the surplus. Mr English agreed that there have been a “fair bit” of disaster costs but he does not have any numbers. Also raised were the issues of student loans, violent crime rates, China and the TPP and the Maori king’s endorsement of the Maori Party.

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