Brash to chair 2025 Taskforce
Rodney Hide has announced:
The Minister of Regulatory Reform, Rodney Hide, said the 2025 Taskforce was charged with recommending ways to improve productivity in order to close the income gap with Australia by 2025.
“The establishment of the taskforce was a key component in the ACT-National confidence and supply agreement, reflecting the importance we place on working to close the income gap with Australia,” Mr Hide said. “That income gap is one of the reasons we lose so many talented, hard-working New Zealanders every year.”
The Taskforce will provide an initial report in October 2009. Mr Hide said that report will identify the policy settings and changes that will deliver the productivity growth necessary for a stronger, more prosperous economy. Further progress reports will then be provided in 2010 and 2011.
The five-member 2025 Taskforce will be chaired by Dr Don Brash.
“Dr Brash is ideally suited to this role, with his wide experience of economic policy,” Mr Hide said. He was Governor of the Reserve Bank for 14 years, and an important motivation for his entering politics in 2002 was the widening income gap with Australia.”
The other four members are yet to be selected. Mr Hide said ministers are considering potential candidates with strong expertise on the New Zealand economy and public policy.
I have no doubt Don will identify measures that will increase productivity growth. And I have no doubt that because it is Don, Labour and the Greens will oppose it automatically. Their wails have already begun.
The big question, is will the Government act on the recommendations of the Taskforce? Closing the gap with Australia was a major major plank for National at the last election. I think voters will understand that dealing with the effects of the global recession has been the immediate challenge, but certainly will want to see a firm work programme by the time of the next election. The gap won’t reduce by itself.
July 21st, 2009 at 4:36 pm
All for the Taskforce (although I’d rather it was about getting decent productivity gains than some odd obsession with one country).
Highly suspicious that the chair has gone to an individual with highly defined political views and a very “macro” background. Still, we’ll see what he says. If he comes back with “9% compulsory employer superannuation at low tax rates/significant incentive to R&D/capital gains tax to remove investment distortion” then great. He’ll have surprised the pants off me but great.
July 21st, 2009 at 4:39 pm
I’ll ask it again.
Which income gap?
The low paid?
The middle?
The top?
Each has a gap, and each will need differentw ays to address it.
Anyway, why the fixation with the income gap between NZ and OZ when it is the easiest one to fix? *
Why not improve the income gap between NZ, and say, anywhere else?
And how do you (Brash, natioanl) determine the gap? Which state will be used? resource rich Western Australia? Resource poor Victoria? South Australia with its eclectic mix?
Closing the income gap with Oz makes as much sense as bringing Queensland sunshine to Invercargill.
* Accept the Aussies offer to become a state.
July 21st, 2009 at 4:40 pm
I think your post from a few days ago provided a good insight into why this taskforce will now be a failure. It needed cross-parliament buy-in to be effective, and by choosing Brash the government has ensured that buy-in won’t happen.
The real question is whether Brash has realised it’s not the 1990s yet, and that his economic ideology is 15 years out of date.
July 21st, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Much as it pains me I have some sympathy with jarbury’s latter comment above, but I think appointing Brash to lead this taskforce was a mistake politically as I note here http://bit.ly/FT050
Many will not agree, but Brash is easily demonised by Labour.
July 21st, 2009 at 4:50 pm
jarbury you were never ever going to get ‘cross parliamentary buy-in,’ as you euphemistically call it, from Labour and the Greens who act as the provisional wing for the country’s trade unions and actively work to reduce productivity at every turn.
You see the Australian unions have grown up long ago but New Zealand’s unions have yet to leave the juvenile stage.
July 21st, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Might make a good chair but would we be better served by someone who has actually worked in an industry that survives on being productive, i.e experienced in the private sector.
One of the big reasons we are where we are is excessivly high interest rates which has resulted in a mental exchange rate. If you export to the States you need to be pretty effective but tell me a business that will grow and thrive when the exchange rate goes between 40 cents and 80 cents within the space of a couple of years.
Its easier to buy a few rental properties and pick up the accomodation supplement than battle the NZ dollar. Brash will NOT even look at the Reserve Bank Act which is a significant reason why we dont have a bigger export sector and it is an export sector that is exposed to worlds best practices tend to be the most productive.
Leave Brash on his pension with his myopic view, still its better than taking the reccomendation that cunliffe or goff would have come up with and they are no doubt tied up with paying the dole to millionaires and enquiring into why the banks have dropped their interest rates 30% since Labour were voted out.
July 21st, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Adolf, well we will never know now will we?
July 21st, 2009 at 4:58 pm
get over it we dont have bipartisan government
The citizens spoke 8th November 2008 and elected a government to govern.
Now Don This is what you need to do and it wont take to 2025 if you follow my steps.
1. Privatise the SOEs Crown Enterprises etc and list them on the NZX.
2. Privatise Government Departments or outsource the core day to day functions.
3. Abolish every and anything that has Commission in its name.
Now when these tasks are completed by 31st December 2009 come back and see me for Stage 2 of the programme.
July 21st, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Thanks for proving my point GD
July 21st, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Adolf I respect your views, but I have doubts whether Brash is the man for the job.
Mark you I have set out my stall here http://bit.ly/35EizJ
I think Brash is too rigid in his views
July 21st, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Jarbury is correct, the panel needed to be more inclusive.
About the only way this can be salvaged is to get someone equally, but opposingly ideologically bound to serve on the panel – what is Dr Cullen doing these days?
July 21st, 2009 at 5:06 pm
I was concerned that Dr Brash might be too polarising and not get cross-party support as well.
Then I reflected that it’s unlikely that we will have a Labour government within the next decade, and if Dr Brash serves five or six years in the job, then he won’t be there next time there is a Labour government anyway.
Dr Brash is probably New Zealand’s most distinguished economist working today. He is internationally very highly respected for his work. He was appointed by both the fourth and the fifth Labour governments as reserve bank governor, and appointed by the fourth Labour Government to consider GST. Mr Goff was an enthusiastic member of both of those governments.
It is a shame that Labour can only see the political side of the issue, rather than playing a part in the challenge to raise New Zealand’s productivity over the next ten years, but they will have a long time in opposition to think about how they can contribute constructively.
July 21st, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Labour would never be happy with any Chair, unless it was one of their own. Talk about whinging Poms, Jeeessh.
July 21st, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Politically Don Brash might also not have been the wisest choice in terms of retaining Maori Party support. He really didn’t poll highly in their core electorate whilst in parliament.
July 21st, 2009 at 5:18 pm
National supported Helen Clark for her UN job.
National appointed Michael Cullen to his NZ Post job.
If Labour aren’t going to support Don Brash in a similar bipartisan fashion, then there really isn’t any point in the winners of the election continuing to act reasonably towards the losers of the election.
July 21st, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Labour, jackoff and the Greens can piss and moan all they want. They’re 22% behind and their socialist thinking over the last decade has helped cause this gap in the name of social justice.
July 21st, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Closing the gap with Australia will require sustained investment in innovation and R&D. It will also require tough and brave political leadership to push people away from their obsession with real estate investment.
Brash doesn’t have the imagination or vision to do the job. And he’s a divisive figure.
The Nats scrapped the R&D tax credit, and there’s no sign of movement from them on the housing front. Though to be fair, Labour haven’t shown much vision either.
So I’m not exactly holding my breath.
July 21st, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Don has operated a major Kiwifruit farm for many years and was instrumental in setting up the Kiwi Fruit industry in New Zealand.
He has been a director of many private companies and has advised many overseas governments.
If you think he is myopic why do you think he asked me to look at what was driving up house prices in 1995.
I told him but the ARC immediately employed some consultants who agreed to take on a contract to prove me wrong.
Naturally they took their own consultants’ advise.
He made submissions to the Select Committee on affordable housing in which we warned of the housing bubble and its effect on financial markets.
Those who blame the housing bubble on cheap money fail to explain why NZ had a similar bubble even though we never “enjoyed” the cheap money.
July 21st, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Just remember that Dr Cullen announced that high speed broadband was irrelevant to improving productivity.
That surely disqualifies him from sitting on such a panel.
July 21st, 2009 at 5:42 pm
I’d put Mike Moore on the panel. Just to give Goff and Cunliffe the shits.
July 21st, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Hopefully he will something to say about training, R and D and how to improve venture capital investment in technology. Its inevitable that he will recommend a higher GST, decreased personal/company tax and likely a Capital Gains Tax. Also I’d be surprised if the curernt levels of rural research will get off without comment.
Not sure if Key/English will have the courage to follow these through so it should be interesting.
July 21st, 2009 at 5:45 pm
adamsmith, I’m delighted at least one person respects my views but before everybody dives off the deep end into the pool of apoplexy, let’s just remember that Dr Brash will be one of five panel members. To hear the talk, you’d think he was General Patton let loose on the road to Moscow in 1945.
July 21st, 2009 at 5:49 pm
All these fucken idiots demanding government regualtion and political leadership make me want to puke.
This is the very thinking that is responsible for the mess we’re in now.
A mess that is going to get a lot worse if they don’t get their heads around the fact that what this country needs is a lot less government, a lot less public sector, alot mor eprivate sector, but most of all, a lot less interference from the left.
If the brain damaged left vapourised themselves overnight, NZ’s productivity, its standard of living and its wealth would increase threefold in six months.
July 21st, 2009 at 5:57 pm
He wasn’t my choice, but I take the DavidP’s point that the Nats appointed both Clark and Cullen to Govt appointments. Now will be the time to call in one of those IOUs. Likewise theres an IOU or two to call in on the Maori Party and even the Greens.
JC
July 21st, 2009 at 5:59 pm
me..!..me..!..me..!
..can i guess what his conclusions will be..?..can l..?..can i…?
..in a nutshell..
..to finance the closing of the gap..
..everything will have to be privatised..
.kapow..!
(holy finished-agenda..!..batman..!..)
phil(whoar.co.nz)
July 21st, 2009 at 6:00 pm
mmm!!!..’ vapourised ‘..!!!..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
July 21st, 2009 at 6:06 pm
the right wing/elites use the economic collapse..
..to clawback/privatise inter-generational funded state assets..
..to loot and pillage..
..and consolidate their position..
(that is brashs’ ‘brief’..)
..it ain’t rocket science..
..eh..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
July 21st, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Better that than use the economic collapse to institute greater social control and leeching of economic production “1990″-style, phool.
For reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990_(TV_series)
July 21st, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Hurf Durf (213) Vote: 2 1 Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Labour, jackoff and the Greens can piss and moan all they want. They’re 22% behind and their socialist thinking over the last decade has helped cause this gap in the name of social justice.
Funny, but the $US was worth 75 NZ cents, the wage gap between NZ and Oz was either nil, or slightly in NZ’s favour and NZ sat high on the OECD comparative tables. THEN Along came the chicago school of voodonomics and those held in its thrall, Douglas, Richardson, et al and the $NZ crashed, Aus prospered while NZ sank and the nation fell to the bottom end of OECD rankings.
And these SAME FUCKING IDIOTS
July 21st, 2009 at 6:33 pm
THESE SAME FUCKING IDIOTS
July 21st, 2009 at 6:34 pm
THESE SAME FUCKING IDIOTS think that the only way out of the mess they created is more of their poison.
July 21st, 2009 at 6:34 pm
sorry about above – something odd with kiwiblog’s posting function.
July 21st, 2009 at 6:42 pm
THESE SAME FUCKING IDIOTS in Australia? Well they probably just weren’t so late shedding protectionism and daft “Think Big” projects there. Such a pity things have turned sour there recently. Don’t worry, wage parity will now be closer than you think.
July 21st, 2009 at 6:46 pm
“..You see the Australian unions have grown up long ago but New Zealand’s unions have yet to leave the juvenile stage..”
hilarious rewrite of history there..adolf..
..the reason the aussies still have strong unions..
..is because..unlike ours..and their craven collapse..
..the unions in aussie told the rightwing revolution to ‘fuck off..!
..and stood up and fought..
..our unions whimpered..and crawled into a corner..
..to wait for their knighthoods..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
July 21st, 2009 at 6:51 pm
MyNameIsFuckwit, there’s nothing odd about Kiwiblog’s posting function but there’s something very fucking odd about you.
When I graduated in 1969 I could start in the NZ public service on a salary of $2,200 – no perks. I started work for Shell Co in Australia on a salary of $4,000 with a fully maintained six cylinder brand new vehicle available for unlimited private use.
This is the third time I’ve caught you out spouting utter bullshit on this blog.
Why don’t you just stay at home and learn the difference between fact and delusion?
July 21st, 2009 at 6:53 pm
I seriously doubt much will come of this.
The biggies, capital gains tax on property, flattening tax rates, privatising large parts of govt will never happen.
July 21st, 2009 at 6:56 pm
I had to chuckle listening to Goff ramble on about “right-wing agendas” on One News tonight. Has he forgotten that he was a Minister in the Lange/Palmer/Moore government, and an acolyte of Sir Roger Douglas?
July 21st, 2009 at 6:56 pm
“..Why don’t you just stay at home and learn the difference between fact and delusion?..”
um..!..a tad embarrassing there..adolf..
..saying that straight after yr (union) failing to ‘ learn the difference between fact and delusion?..”
..eh..?
and what did say was wrong..?
we embraced/swallowed ‘chicago voodoo economics’ ..
..aussie didn’t..
..who won again..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
July 21st, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Closing the wage gap with Australia
easy
1 Suddenly find a whole lot of mineral wealth
2 Strengthen the NZ trade union union movement to the level of our brothers in OZ.
July 21st, 2009 at 7:07 pm
“(Will the Government act on the recommendations of the Taskforce)”
On their resent history of Flip Flops and their resent view on the Business Roundtable recommendations on Maori Welfare which in itself would improve New Zealand’s Productivity.
I would say the Taskforce recommendations would fall into Nationals “pretty draconian” none of their ideas are on our agenda” National hard basket.
Im starting to thing National is playing the old past National game of waving the big stick making loud noses and achieving very little.
You only need to look at the National Party’s history compared to the Labour Party’s history. To see which party has acted on and moved to revolutionise government policy towards improving New Zealand’s productivity… verse subsidies and protectionism.
July 21st, 2009 at 7:14 pm
phil, you’re slobbering over your keyboard.
July 21st, 2009 at 7:16 pm
“..When I graduated in 1969 I could start in the NZ public service on a salary of $2,200 – no perks. I started work for Shell Co in Australia on a salary of $4,000 with a fully maintained six cylinder brand new vehicle available for unlimited private use..”
in 1969..you worked for an oil company..?
..that whole 60′s/youth revolution/culture thing really passed you by..eh adolf..?
..fuck..!..you must have been ‘straight’..
..in 1969 i was living in a (4 house) squat in darlinghurst..
..partying/screwing my little head off..
..it’s kinda sad..
..to think of you..
..in yr holden..
..working for the oil company..
..at the time..
..did you notice something was going on..?
..but you didn’t know what it was..
..did you..?..mr jones..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
July 21st, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Excellent. Now JK needs to step down and give Don his rightful position as PM.
July 21st, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Kapital, your economic policy amounts to the “Win Lotto” school of financial planning. No doubt you are poor and will stay that way. You obviously want everyone else to be the same.
Labour will oppose anything produced by National. The Greens will oppose anything that leads to economic growth because they oppose economic growth. So both their opinions are totally irrelevant.
Privatisation is necessary but Key has ruled it out this term. So it will happen next term.
But there is plenty of other stuff to do in the meantime, like fixing immigration, RMA, building regulations, health, education, corrections, justice, transport, … – basically the whole of Government.
July 21st, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Shit, listen to the poor lefty dribblers, whats wrong lads are your chickens coming home to roost. I love it, go Don, it’s no wonder we are so far behind the Aussie’s we have been governed by a pack of socialist dipsticks for the last decade. The bloody fool Melons and their two bob mates, the liarbore noddys, are filling their pants. To lift productivity some of you pricks might actually have to produce something for the first time in your pitiful lives. Sadly I believe Don’s findings will not sit well with the entrenched socialists in the Nats. As Ronald Regan said our problem is not government, the problem is government, ps sorry if I got that wrong but you know what I mean.
And Kapital I would argue that this country has huge mineral wealth but God forbid we upset the God that goes by the name of RMA.
July 21st, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Brash divisive? Well who took a failing National Party, led by our useless Finance Minister, and but for evil in the background (from his own lot),would have led them to the Govt. bencher’s. Hardly divisive.
And don’t forget the huge jump in the polls when he made his quite correct Orewa speech. Rather uniting i would have called it.
As for Inventory thinking that Sir Roger is right wing. Well, he answered that a few weeks ago if you want to go back and look.
You are just to dumb for words.
July 21st, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Interesting how out of synch the 2 countries are politically. I well remember NZ being held up as the country to follow – right wing, privatisation, market rules – you know the shit. It was Labour under Prebble, National just took it a bit further.
Thank god saner creatures were around in Oz – Hawke and Keating.
All I can see is that NZ goes backwards especially when the right are in the ascendant.
Very happy to be living in the Ruddster’s Australia. Can almost guarantee the income gap will increase in the next 2 years.
The same morons seem to be back in power in NZ…….they think ACT is kind of edgy….woo hoo!
July 21st, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Shit philu you must be old, I guess that explains it, senility
July 21st, 2009 at 7:45 pm
phil you’re’ a phuckwit just like MNIF.
It was a Chrysler Valiant, see?
July 21st, 2009 at 7:47 pm
i may be old..
but i don’t spend my days..hurting/killing animals..
..eh bloody hands bob..?
(b.t.w..are you preparing for your killing-industry to go down the toilet..?
..nice fat mortgage/bank loans there..?..bloody hands..?
..(y’know..!..for that ‘upgrade’ you did..?..during those halcyon ‘white-gold’ days..?
..that now has the potential to sink you..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
July 21st, 2009 at 7:48 pm
my bad on the chrysler there..adolf..
..but..fuck..!
..you missed the sixties..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
July 21st, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Ha ha. Eat that Helen Clark.
July 21st, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Well yes,phil. Except that we are talking about the seventies and I’m a good ten years older than you so you must have been doing very well as an eight year old to fuck yourself stupid in Darlinghurst.
July 21st, 2009 at 7:57 pm
in 1969..i was 19..adolf..
..now..i know i look ten years younger than you..
..tho we are the same age..
..but that’s ‘cos you are made up of dead/rotting animal bits..
..and i am not..
..that’d be a q.e.d. on the vegan thing..?
..eh..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
July 21st, 2009 at 7:57 pm
“Very happy to be living in the Ruddster’s Australia.”
How’s that free “stimulus” money going for you?
July 21st, 2009 at 7:59 pm
If we want to close the wage gap with Australia we first have to make sure everybody by age 15 can read, add and solve simple everyday things like bus timetables. We don’t need more checkout operators at the Warehouse, we need people ready to be competitive with workers in key industries to give us an advantage. Paying people to be idyll doesn’t help our cause.
July 21st, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Kapital,
NZ has slightly higher unionist numbers than Oz.. 22% to 20% (OECD, 2006).
The NZ percentage has been stable for ten years. In the same period Aussie’s percentage have fallen about 40%.
http://74.125.153.132/search?q=cache:uj4ascal2H0J:www.oecd.org/dataoecd/25/42/39891561.xls+oecd+trade+unions&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=nz
JC
July 21st, 2009 at 8:04 pm
“..Paying people to be idyll ..”
heh..!
..you didn’t include spelling/language comprehension on yr to-do list..
..eh..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
July 21st, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Hey philu, speaking of cars did you use a petrol guzzler as the get-away vehicle for your armed robbery..
..or a fuel efficient model..
..or maybe a pedal bike.. ..eh?!
phil(workandincome.govt.nz)
July 21st, 2009 at 8:15 pm
nah..!..i was hoping a bus would come along at the right time..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
July 21st, 2009 at 8:16 pm
I struggle to see how Don Brash is going to change anything when clearly he had this exact opportunity to do so effectively as leader of the opposition back when Labour was in government – as unfortunate as it was his gob was bigger than his intentions and that eventually got the better of the so-called “conservative” camp.
As for this “gap” (note the quotation marks) between NZ and Australia, I think it’s understandable considering the vast and complex differences between the two economies.
The Australian economy has far more to dish out and fall back on in a recession and this is natural on the basis that the Australian economy thrives on assets we don’t hold as much – Natural resources.
I think the population of tax payers should also be considered because “naturally” Australia has plenty more and again a comparison the two is on that basis inaccurate and unfair.
If the current administration wanted to touch the real economic issues and concerns that this country faces I think we should leave Australia out all together and consider exactly how we intend to invest in vital areas like employment, education and health care.
It is strategically important for NZ to come out afresh from this recession with a bare minimum of a well performing education system and a progressive employment population. If the literacy and numeracy statistics alongside the beneficiary statistics are anything to go by I personally think in 5 or 10 years time we are going to have strife on our hands.
Lets see some real ideas National…
July 21st, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Labour really have a problem in overcoming their own “stupidity-inertia”: time and time again, they take a stand, get proved wrong, but find it so hard to say they are wrong that they bloodymindedly force the issue. Here we have the appointment of one of the greatest economic minds in the country, and they wont support him because they character assasinated him last election under Clark and feel compelled to continue to do so.
The truth of the matter as far as labour is concerned is that they are still being controlled by the Clark agenda; Phil Goff lacks the support, gravatas and charisma to pull labour in a new direction. Perhaps once they become “lighter” after the next election, they will be able to change direction more easily and become a more credible opposition.
July 21st, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Actually a World Bank report of 1982 and others since then show that we have more natural capital per capita than any country, including Australia, than any country in the world except Saudi Arabia.
Sadly 80% of our mineral wealth is locked up inside the Conservation estate and so is inaccessible.
The Australians would not let that happen.
July 21st, 2009 at 8:45 pm
“..one of the greatest economic minds in the country,.”
fuck..!..you’re funny..!
don ‘bubbles’ brash is who you are talking about..?
the one who free-marketed our economy down the toilet..?
and who’s annointed successor is allan ‘the recession is over!’ bollard..?
whoar..!
(are we tigers for punishment..or what..?
..he hasn’t ‘done enough’..?)
phil(whoar.co.nz)
July 21st, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Arguably our rainfall is a much bigger and more sustainable advantage than Aussie’s minerals.
Another thing I note, is my impression that countries doing better than we use their (mainly democratic) form of Govt to create wealth and productivity. NZ spends its time and productivity trying to be more democratic and fair than just about any other nation. There appears to be this belief that we can only get rich by being fairer and more consultative. How often do we hear a mantra of “NZ can only advance if (insert grouping) is included..”
Sorry, it doesn’t work that way. Productivity and wealth are created when (insert grouping) decide to shelve their grievances and join in the wealth creation process.
JC
July 21st, 2009 at 9:17 pm
“Brash to chair 2025 Taskforce”
2025 Ha… sounds like jobs for the boys.. to me.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:24 pm
If by bubble you mean predicted that the housing bubble was about to cause a recession several years before it happened, then yes that displays impressive foresight.
Dont think he was ever involved in any privatisation philu – he was never in government, maybe you are referring to the money market where he got inflation under control and then managed to progressively reduce interest rates from double to single digits. Admittedly this was increasingly difficult task in the later part of his tenure where Labour fiscal policy was wasteful and inflationary. One can only imagine how much better society would be if a more fiscally restrained govt was in power, allowing a lower interest rate to be set and subsequently more export growth.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Um, good one Don. Calling all the shots, like a loaded gun!
Yep, privatistion, wage cuts, job losses. Guess they’re all on the agenda big time now.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:42 pm
No one cares about your irrelevant party’s irrelevant blog, frog.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:48 pm
A total waste of time, energy and money! Just motivate the current bureaucrats to make some speedy decisions so that the good people of NZ can get on with the job of running businesses, employing staff (and dismissing where required) then without so much red tape and political correctness we may be able to make some money which would benefit all.
I am sick and tired of a country and councils being run by committees and PC rubbish. Let’s loosen up a bit so we can make some real progress and employ people that can make sensible decisions on their own without having to consult everyman and his Dog! Then NZ might start to see some real growth.
Yes I guess that I can dream!
July 21st, 2009 at 9:49 pm
” Pongo
Leave Brash on his pension with his myopic view, still its better than taking the reccomendation that cunliffe or goff would have come up with and they are no doubt tied up with paying the dole to millionaires and enquiring into why the banks have dropped their interest rates 30% since Labour were voted out.”
Except it has nothing at all to do with Labour being voted out, you prove that you have no credibility, in one easy sentance\fuck up
July 21st, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Australia already has a CGT, has stamp duty on property purchases, pays its workers properly, invests in its infrastructure, are building housing are investing in renewable energy, has a massive tertiary education sector.
Do you really think that Bill and John are going to want to emulate that. Its way past their comfort zone.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Considering the economic ideology favoured by Brash actually created the wage gap between NZ and Australia in the 1984-1999 period, it’s going to be hilarious to hear how he intends to close that gap. Repudiate everything he believes in perhaps?
July 21st, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Rubbish, jarbury. There was already a 50% GDP per head gap in 1984.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:43 pm
As far as I know wage levels in New Zealand in 1984 were higher than those in Australia. The income gap (which is what this is about remember) completely opened up in the 1984-1999 period – which was characterised by the neoliberal economic ideology.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:53 pm
All the fucking gob shite socialists on here, saying we can never close the gap with Australia because we don’t have the resources they do, don’t be so fucking close minded and so limp dicked that you give up before we start.
Let’s substitute Australia for Singapore then, let’s close the gap with them… They have a much stronger economy than ours, higher wages to boot and NO resources…..
They also have a fantastic justice system, where drug fucked losers like that parasitic piece of shit philu would’ve had their heads cut off by now!
July 21st, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Well, this thread has been littered by the biggest load of cock from our Pinko mates for a long time.
If we won’t believe their lies, then they obfusacate, and wriggle. Making up Statistics on the spot.
Trying to cause uproar, when the Majority of NZ’ers have not only made their minds up at the GE.
They are very happy with the descision. Good to see folks smiling again.
Such a big Gap in the Polls chaps. Suck it up why don’t you? Nobody wants you any more!
Boo ‘effin Hoo.
July 21st, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Guess though the real answer is to pour Acid into everyone’s bread, limit everyone’s shower pressure, moan about Government not doing in 9 months what they never did in 9 years (Dole Payouts etc.)
Or stealing cases of alcohol. the true measure of a true Socialist. Thieving Scum.
July 22nd, 2009 at 12:05 am
As I’ve posted elsewhere, the Australian Productivity Commission is bi-partisan because Australian Labor support productivity growth.
NZ Labour don’t even understand what productivity growth is, never mind support it – see Charles Chauvel’s comments at the Business Roundtable a few months ago for proof of that.
July 22nd, 2009 at 12:35 am
National stooped to a new nanny state low when they started telling doctors what they were and weren’t allowed to prescribe.
July 22nd, 2009 at 12:36 am
Ahh the Left….liars and historically ignorant…..whats new?
July 22nd, 2009 at 12:38 am
# peteremcc
NZ Labour don’t even understand what productivity growth is, never mind support it – see Charles Chauvel’s comments at the Business Roundtable a few months ago for proof of that.
Charles Chauvel’s comments made perfect sense, all there was was a few Tory boys playing gotcha over their precious economics jargon, beating them selves off over technical definitions of words that are different to their plain meaning.
July 22nd, 2009 at 12:41 am
“# James
Ahh the Left….liars and historically ignorant…..whats new?”
Not historically ignorant. National voted down the Greens medical marijuana bill, that is nanny state, that is saying we know better than doctors, that is telling doctors what they can and cannot prescribe, in direct contravention to their expert opinion. That is a new low in nanny state.
Plus you and you’re party are the biggest liars, biggest thieves, and defiantly biggest danger to society. If you can’t see that its purely because of your own stupidity.
July 22nd, 2009 at 2:20 am
It seems to me that Brash was chosen by Rodney Hyde rather than John Key. Hyde knows that Brash has economic views close to those of the Act party, and that being a former leader of the National party he will be difficult for the Government to ignore without looking silly. Key would probably rather someone else, for the reasons mentioned by others above, and because he’d probably like the option to ignore the recommendations of the taskforce if they don’t suit his polical purposes.
July 22nd, 2009 at 3:16 am
So like you guys say about the greens, what about all those carbon emissions they create while spreading the green message, doesn’t the same apply here? Surely the best thing this task force could do for productivity is disband and return all the money allocated to them too the tax payers where it came form in the first place?
July 22nd, 2009 at 4:19 am
Who chairs the taskforce is irrelevant. Nouveaux communists will bitch about Brash while righties applaud… but the tough medicine required to cut the socialist entitlement-syndrome from our society will take too many election cycles to implement. Votes will be needed and my money will be used to buy them.
July 22nd, 2009 at 11:37 am
This is very welcomed news. Nice to hear Dr Brash’s voice on the radio and news again.
July 22nd, 2009 at 11:52 am
Nice to hear Dr Brash’s voice on the radio and news again.
He gets on Breakfast TV every now and again.
July 22nd, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Brash is payback for Cullen, and payback is sooooo sweet.
July 22nd, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Hmm, wonder if Brash will mention family values ?
Now where did I put that iwi vs kiwi rule sign, Hone wants to borrow it.
July 22nd, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Had to laugh.
While the Greens, Progressive and Labour are raving on about how Brash is the devil incarnate and should not have the job, the CTU comes out this morning saying it would like to work with Dr. Brash if invited. Poor old Labour most of their ‘friends’ are now working in some way with the enemy.
Dont you love it!!! (of course Id hate to see it happen but….)
July 22nd, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Wonder if we’ll get Aussies 45% top tax rate and CGT then?
July 22nd, 2009 at 4:07 pm
“Plus you and you’re party are the biggest liars, biggest thieves, and defiantly biggest danger to society. If you can’t see that its purely because of your own stupidity.”
Sorry pal but I’m an ACT supporter…..not a Nat……and even then your claim is far closer to Labour than anyone else.
July 22nd, 2009 at 4:52 pm
The more I think about this, the more I think it is a waste of time.
This is because…..
Former National Party leader Don Brash is well aware the Government will not sign up to any politically unpalatable recommendations the economic hardliner puts up to close the income gap between Australia and New Zealand, says Prime Minister John Key.
Our current economic environment is shit. We need to bite a few lemons.
John Key has said there will be no hard decisions.
So, what is the point? Hard decisions are needed.