14 December 2004
Unions Urge Government to Invest in People
The Council of Trade Unions today called on the Government to use its strong fiscal position to make further investment
in skills, infrastructure and improved health and education outcomes.
“The CTU rejects business calls for tax cuts,” CTU President Ross Wilson said. “Now is the time for investment.”
The Budget Policy Statement and 2004 December Economic and Fiscal Update consolidated a very strong record of fiscal
management by this Government.
In the last five years the Government has increased expenditure, reduced debt, put aside money for future government
superannuation costs, and has also assisted economic growth with sound policies on economic development.
“It is now time to increase the investment in the development and skills of our main national asset, our people,” Ross
Wilson said
“The Government can now justify on fiscal and economic management grounds a significant incentive on workplace
superannuation.”
The strong position also cleared the way to bring forward to July 2005 the $10 per child increase in Family Support due
in April 2007, he said.
“That payment is already fully costed into the longer term fiscal projections. It is easily affordable, only mildly
inflationary and will help low income families.”
ENDS