The Finance Minister seems to be on a one-man political mission over his superannuation proposal, National's Finance
Spokesperson Bill English said today.
"Michael Cullen is claiming the high moral ground over his proposal, saying others must not turn it into a political
football. But his own political allies don't seem to be playing on the same team when it comes to the mechanics or even
the fundamental principles of his scheme.
"The Alliance and the Greens vetoed Dr Cullen's preferred option. New Zealand First are refusing to bail it out. And
even Helen Clark has been conspicuous by her silence over whether she thinks the scheme is a goer.
"He seems to have opted for a partisan approach, pushing his own personal wheelbarrow on a major issue, and he's reaping
the rewards of that.
"Opposition leader Jenny Shipley approached the Government early this year with an offer to put National's existing
policies aside and sit down with the Government to hammer out a workable and effective solution to the superannuation
issue. But the Government hasn't even been courteous enough to respond to that offer, let alone take it up.
"If Dr Cullen is serious about finding a durable solution to the question of superannuation he must involve other
parties, not simply slate them for not instantly agreeing to his poorly sketched proposal.
"Without proper consultation there's no way other parties can be expected to join him on his one-man mission. Which
makes you wonder whether he isn't deliberately setting up a well meaning but ineptly designed proposal simply so he can
play the martyr when it gets knocked back," Bill English said.
Ends