Paul Goldsmith - Finance
2 December 2019
Government – first class at PR, third rate at delivery
After two years in Government Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Finance Minister Grant Robertson have finally realised
they’ve dropped the ball on infrastructure and are now frantically announcing big spending commitments before the end of
the Prime Minister’s self-proclaimed year of delivery, National’s Finance spokesperson Paul Goldsmith says.
“Why should New Zealanders have any confidence that the Government will deliver for them, when early promises around
flagship projects like KiwiBuild and the slow tram down Dominion Road have amounted to nothing.
“This Government is first class at announcements, but third rate at delivery.
“It appears the Government has now formally abandoned its solemn election promises around debt. While it makes sense to
borrow for quality projects, the reality is this Government inherited plenty of money and has wasted it on loose
spending such as Shane Jones’ Slush Fund and strange priorities.
“This is a panicked effort to stimulate the economy, but the Government is refusing to acknowledge its role in slowing
the economy in the first place.
“Just watch over the next few weeks as the Prime Minister characterises these hastily cobbled together commitments as
examples of delivery, when in reality they are poorly conceived bribes.
“New Zealanders have begun realising how little Jacinda Arden’s Government has done, despite all her rhetoric about
wellbeing and transformation.
“National on the other hand knows how to get things done, and would get on with building the infrastructure Labour is
neglecting. We will implement our positive economic plan to restore business confidence and revive the economy. National
will actually deliver for New Zealanders, rather than talk about it.”
ends