Economic justice better than capitalist market turmoil says Alliance Party

Alliance Party Media Release –FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 3 October 2008

The Alliance Party believes that the recent global market turmoil is a strong reminder of the pitfalls of modern capitalism and in releasing its economic justice policy today is seeking to remind New Zealanders of this.

Alliance Party Co-Leader Kay Murray says "The Alliance's goal is for New Zealand to be an equal and fairer country and a more democratic society where people come before profits. The drive for profits above all else, inevitably results in financial, economic and social hardship. It is a well documented fact that there is now a persistent level of poverty in New Zealand. We see this as totally unacceptable."

The cornerstone of the Alliance Party's economic justice policy is that all people have the right to work without exploitation, to have job security and to earn a living wage for themselves and their families.

To this end, the Alliance believes in full employment and decent work. The party will increase the minimum wage to $17 per hour and it will also push for automatic wage rises to compensate for price increases.

Other measures will include the repeal of legislation that drives the current inequitable system, such as the Reserve Bank Act, the State Sector Act and the Public Finance Act. Furthermore, the Alliance will widen the criteria for the national interest test to include social well being, environmental sustainability, compatibility with the Treaty of Waitangi and economic sovereignty and impose more stringent limits on the amount of foreign investment in New Zealand. The Alliance will not allow multinational companies to come in and exploit our people or our environment."

The Alliance will take essential services such as telecommunications, electricity, water and gas back into public ownership. Above all the party will ensure that economic planning focuses on sustainability and the needs of all New Zealanders rather than merely maximizing profits

"We believe that the Alliance Party economic justice policy is timely, stressing economic cooperation and justice rather than free market profit and competition and provides the best way forward for New Zealand," stated Ms Murray.

ENDS

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