David
CUNLIFFE
Labour Leader
12 May 2014 MEDIA STATEMENT
Labour will set 4% unemployment target
The next Labour Government will set a target of reaching four per cent unemployment by the end of its first term and run
Government surpluses to pay down National’s record debt, says Labour Leader David Cunliffe.
“Labour’s priority is to create better jobs that pay higher wages for New Zealanders. That’s why a major target for the
next Government will be getting the unemployment rate back to the levels of the last Labour Government, before National
came to power.
“We will do this through our Economic Upgrade which will focus on investment, innovation and industry to create better
jobs for Kiwis.
“Our Reserve Bank Upgrade and universal KiwiSaver will help our exporters create better jobs by tackling our overvalued
exchange rate as well as boosting investment which our capital gains tax will ensure gets to productive industries.
“Our manufacturing, forestry, KiwiBuild and NZ Power policies will cut costs and provide support to business, enabling
them to create jobs.
“The next Labour Government will continue the party’s tradition of fiscal responsibility. The previous Labour Government
ran nine surpluses in a row compared to the five deficits under National. The Government I lead will run surpluses every
year unless there is a significant downturn.
“This will ensure we can reduce the record debt this Government has built up over five years.
“Labour is the only party that has the policies to get Kiwis back into work while ensuring the Government’s books are
back in the black,” David Cunliffe says.
ENDS