Government Programme Lacks Vision
Tuesday 27 Aug 2002
The Government's programme as outlined in the Governor General's message shows Labour has not learned why it lost
eleven percent support during the election, ACT Leader Richard Prebble said today.
"The Government is ignoring the public's opposition to the early release of violent offenders from prison. The problem
of hospital waiting lists is ignored. The Government is continuing to dumb down education with the NCEA.
"The public's desire for a timetable for Treaty claims is arrogantly ignored.
"While the Government claims it wants faster growth to return New Zealand to the top half of the OCED, Labour continues
to impose on business the highest rate of company tax of any of our trading partners.
"Changes in employment law making it difficult for firms to contract out will further discourage companies from
offering employment.
"While Labour proposed during the election campaign to cut red tape, not only is that promise forgotten, but changes to
the Holidays Act and parental leave will impose higher compliance costs on business.
"ACT is also concerned that Labour appears to be about to reduce tax on foreign investment, but not for New Zealand
companies.
"The whole package lacks coherent framework or any real vision of how to return New Zealand to the top half of the
OECD," Mr Prebble said.
Ends