John Key MP
National Party Finance Spokesman
7 June 2006
Cullen running out of people to abuse
Finance Minister Michael Cullen is the one who is out of step on tax cuts, not the media, says National Finance
spokesman John Key.
“He’s showed again in a speech today that he’s a finance minister under pressure, accusing the media of dumbing down
their coverage of the tax cuts issue,” Mr Key says.
“But Dr Cullen should be looking at himself, not blaming everybody else for his failed Budget.
“He’s the one who is refusing to listen to public opinion about tax cuts – which a One News poll last week showed the
public actually wants.
“He’s the one who elected to embark on a heavy spending programme in government - some of it of dubious value.
“He’s the one who instituted the Oberac as a better measure of the health of the Government’s books than the operating
surplus, and then put it to one side in favour of a smaller number – the cash surplus – when the Oberac got so large it
looked like tax cuts were affordable.
“Now, when the pressure is on for him to justify the lack of tax cuts not only to the public but to his own caucus, all
he can do is repeatedly shoot the messenger.
“He’s a man out of synch with the Prime Minister, his own caucus, and the New Zealand public.”
ENDS