20 June 2002 Media Statement
Alliance seeks to use NZ Superannuation funds to write off student debt
Associate Education (Tertiary Education) Minister Steve Maharey is criticising the Alliance for playing the politics of
inter-generational envy with their proposal to use Government funding allocated to New Zealand Superannuation to write
off student debt.
“If the money is coming from the Superannuation Fund the question is how does the Alliance intend to meet the income
needs of older New Zealanders?
“To suggest that the incomes of older New Zealanders will be met by the growth dividend that will be generated from
writing off student debt is to indulge in the kind of voodoo economics that went out with Ronald Reagan.
“And if the Alliance were to choose not to take money out of the pockets of older New Zealanders the only other way to
fund their promises would be to increase the middle rate of income tax for working New Zealanders. Based on their own
costings this suggests an increase in the middle rate from 21 to 25 cents in the dollar.
“Pre-funding New Zealand Superannuation is actually a policy that benefits today’s young people. If we don’t put some
money aside now, when the current generation of tertiary students graduate they will face much higher tax rates to
support baby boomer pensioners and there will be nothing set aside for them when they are ready to retire themselves.
“The Alliance’s objectives are laudable, but they are more heroic than realistic. Because they have little prospect of
being represented in the next Parliament they can indulge themselves in sponsoring some kind of fiscal telethon. Others
may want to play this game; Labour will stand on its record.
“Labour has delivered on all of its 1999 Manifesto policies in the area of tertiary education and training. Those
policies were realistic, and they were affordable.
“Under the Labour-led Government total spending on tertiary education and training has increased from just under $1.38
billion in 1999/2000 to $1.85 billion in 2002/03 – that is an increase of 34% over this period.
“It is also remarkable that the Alliance policy says nothing about industry training, and workplace and life-long
learning. This suggests to me that the Alliance is driven more by sectional interests than by the interests of the
average New Zealand working family,” Steve Maharey said.
ENDS