David Cunliffe
Economic Development Spokesperson
26 September 2012
Absent growth agenda hurts communities
Since Steven Joyce announced his Business Growth Agenda six months ago with a focus on resources and mining, nothing has
been done that would help the people of Greymouth, Huntly and Waihi, says Labour’s Economic Development spokesperson
David Cunliffe.
“Six months ago Steven Joyce announced his Business Growth Agenda claiming the Government would put business success
first. But week after week job cuts are announced and on Monday alone we saw three companies announce 600 jobs losses in
just six hours.
“In contrast all we’ve had from Steven Joyce’s agenda in six months are two widely-panned reports packed with
re-announcements.
“Where are the other four reports, especially the one on resources? The people of Greymouth, Huntly and Waihi are
reeling from job losses in the resources industry but they’ve heard nothing from Steven Joyce’s agenda for six months.
“Steven Joyce today refused to tell Parliament when he will release the report, claiming he doesn’t know the release
date. If that’s true what confidence can the people of Greymouth, Huntly, Waihi and indeed all of New Zealand, have that
the Minister is on top of his portfolio?
“I’ve seen a perfectly good Resources plan – it was written by the Spring Creek miners to save their mine, but Steven
Joyce won’t read it. The Minister’s action displays an extraordinary lack of empathy with the families whose lives have
been turned upside down.
“In the six months since Steven Joyce’s Business Growth Agenda over 26,000 people have left for Australia. His BGA
stands for Better Go to Australia.
“Steven Joyce began his supposed roll-out of reports with a hiss and a roar, releasing two in a week. But the first one
was dismissed and the second ignored because there was nothing in them. It seems the embarrassment of his PR failure has
forced the minister to either abandon his approach or come up with ideas.”
ENDS