PSA’s Response Predictable
Press Release by Hon Sir Roger Douglas, ACT New Zealand
Wednesday, May 19 2010.
The Public Service Association’s reaction to my discussion document ‘Budget 2010: Combating Government Waste’ is a
predictable reaction from a special interest group – as soon as their handouts are threatened, they immediately kick up
a fuss, ACT Finance Spokesman Sir Roger Douglas said today.
"If you were to listen to the PSA, the $3.1b identified as government waste – for programmes which are not returning
enough value to the taxpayer – is in fact spending on essential programmes that the taxpayer should be happy to cough up
for," Sir Roger said.
"This is exactly the type of mantra special interest groups always use – the constant call for more money for ‘essential
programmes’ and the use of scaremongering tactics when that money is threatened.
"Some PSA bureaucrats like the fact that low-income New Zealanders are forced to pay to subsidise their tickets to the
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Their complaints highlight exactly the point of the discussion document – that special
interest groups – including the massive Wellington-based bureaucracy – are sucking the average taxpayer dry to fund
their whims and fancies.
"There is always going to be some group that thinks that spending is essential because it shovels taxpayer money into
their pockets. The sooner the Government stops pandering to special interest groups such as the PSA, allowing
expenditure to be cut and taxes to be lowered, the better off the economy - and all taxpayers - will be," Sir Roger
said.
ENDS