Paula Bennett won’t be in her boss John Key’s good books tonight after leaving him floundering in the House today.
We’re well used to Ms Bennett sitting on official benefit figures to escape public scrutiny of the continued worsening of the economy and her government’s lack of a plan to fix the problems.
But this time her trickiness also fooled John Key, who had no idea what the latest figures were when I asked him in the House today.
He did not look happy at been left in the dark.
He left the chamber completely when I spoke in the debate.
Meanwhile, as John Key, Paula Bennett and the rest of the Nat Government pretend like mad that everything is hunky dory, official figures tell us the real story.
According the MSD figures out today there are close to 100,000 additional people on main benefits since 2008, and an extra 4000 last month alone.
Not only that, Bill English has admitted today that we might be back in recession.
In John Key’s third year in charge of the economy, New Zealand is going backwards.
I thought Annette did us proud yesterday with this tribute to the Pike River miners. Text version for those who prefer to read:
Hon ANNETTE KING (Deputy Leader—Labour): The Labour Opposition joins all parties in this House in sending our sympathy to the families and friends of the 29 men who perished in the Pike River Coal mine disaster yesterday. We are also thinking of the people of the West Coast who have woken this morning to the reality of the loss, knowing that all hope of life has been extinguished.
Not a day goes by that we do not hear or read of a tragedy somewhere in the world from natural or human causes—earthquakes to floods, famine to fire—and we watch the passing parade of pictures on our television sets. We feel sad at their loss and we shake our heads at the enormity of their tragedy, but nothing hurts like the death of your own. Twenty-nine men have died, and although five of them are from other countries—Scotland, Australia, and South Africa—they now lie alongside our men and they too are now New Zealanders.
There will be very few people in New Zealand today who do not feel a sense of loss and deep sadness as we look at the faces of the family members, the rescuers, the community leaders, and the clergy, all grief-stricken at their loss and frustrated at their inability to save those lives. As the headlines in our newspaper said today, it is “Our darkest hour”. So many words have already been said and written over the past 6 days, and no doubt many more will follow. Eventually, the stories of this tragedy will also become part of the West Coast legend.
On Friday the Mayor of Grey District, Tony Kokshoorn, who has shown incredible leadership, said that there was a little bit of the West Coast in all of us. I think he is right. But there is a little bit of the coalminer in many of us, as well. My old dad started his working life at 14 years of age in the Owen River mine, 13 miles north of Murchison. His dad worked in the mine too. And his dad before him worked in the Denniston mine, where he broke his back in a mining accident. And his dad was a miner from Jarrow, County Durham, who came to New Zealand for a better life—and my generation got that better life. That will be a familiar story for thousands of New Zealanders whose family grew out of a mining tradition on the West Coast, or in Southland, Huntly, or Waih?.
When most of us think of working in a coalmine, we think of dirt and dust and darkness, hard labour, and danger. But for those who go down the mines it is a way of life. Few other jobs build the sense of brotherhood and loyalty to each other that miners have. The West Coast reputation of stoic, strong fighters arises out of that mining tradition. Now all that strength of character and fighting spirit are going to be needed in the days ahead. As John Crowley, a West Coaster writing in the Dominion Post said today, “what will tomorrow bring … It will bring a heavy blanket of abject sadness.”, until the region rises again from this devastating experience. It will rise again, and they will not be alone.
This morning I was talking to Rick Barker. He is a boy from Runanga, who has spent the last 5 days in Greymouth. He said what a close-knit community it is. In one street in Runanga, Ranfurly Street, two grieving mothers live just a short distance apart. Many others in that street are connected to the miners who died. Rick said there have been 5 days of dread, 5 days of hope, 5 days of courage, and 5 days of great leadership, but now is the time to mourn, and to focus on retrieving the bodies of the men so that there can be closure for their families. Then there will be a time to find out what went wrong.
May they rest in peace.
We all want better coordinated and connected services, especially for at risk families. Labour was absolutely committed to that. But look what we’ve ended up with.
Today Annette King has said the billion dollar figure Tariana Turia was bandying about gave the impression that Whanau Ora would be a major shift in social policy. Instead National’s stumped up just $134 million over four years.
“The Maori party calls it the first wave of funding. I’d call it more of a trickle,” Annette said.
It’s finally been revealed today that the Government will fund Whanau Ora from the Pathways to Partnership programme.That fund was set up by Labour to fully fund 800 Non-Government Organisations to deliver social services in communities. So where’s the major shift? And where’s the funding to back it up?
There’s a range of expressions one could use. A trickle. Not much chop.
But I personally prefer the damp squib. Growing up, I always imagined it as a damp, grey and slightly smelly dishcloth. But below is actually what it is. Seems appropriate, coz when it’s damp it doesn’t go off.
A squib is a miniature explosive device used in a wide range of industries, from special effects to military applications. They resemble tiny sticks of dynamite, both in appearance and construction, although with considerably less explosive power. Squibs can be used to generate mechanical force, as well as to provide pyrotechnic effects for both film and live theatrics. Squibs can be used for shattering or propelling a variety of materials.[1]
Pictured. A box of squibs. Pour water on them and they won’t go off
Bill English answering for John Key yesterday exposed the gap between the rhetoric and the facts when he confirmed that they knew that 3,000 jobs would be lost when they cut the Enterprising communities scheme in the budget.
The savings average about $8m over 4 years. Seems silly thing to do especially when compared to the $50m no jobs so far cycleway to nowhere.
1. Hon ANNETTE KING (Deputy Leader-Labour) to the Prime Minister: Does he have confidence in the Minister for Social Development and Employment?
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Deputy Prime Minister) on behalf of the Prime Minister: Yes the Prime Minister does, and he has a lot more confidence in the Minister than a certain Charles Chauvel had in a former Minister when, as president-
Mr SPEAKER: The question did not ask “if so, why”, it simply asked whether the Prime Minister had confidence in the Minister.
Hon BILL ENGLISH: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. That question was open-ended. I am allowed to give reasons, comparisons, analogies, and anecdotes that back up my answer. Surely you are not going to rule that out.
Mr SPEAKER: The Speaker is the sole judge of those matters, and where the Speaker perceives that it will lead to disorder the Speaker may ask the member to desist.
Hon Annette King: Did the Minister for Social Development and Employment advise the Prime Minister that her decision to cut the Enterprising Communities scheme would lead to 3,000 job losses; if so, how can he have confidence in a Minister who is creating more job losses than job opportunities?
(further points of order)
Hon BILL ENGLISH: Yes
(further points of order and other supplementary questions and answers)
Hon Trevor Mallard: Why did Cabinet decide to cut the Enterprising Communities scheme, given the fact, as the Prime Minister has told us today, that there will be 3,000 job losses?
Hon BILL ENGLISH: In the course of the Budget, Cabinet looked at a whole range of schemes, including many misguided and ineffective schemes put in place by the previous Government. Given the fiscal constraints, we have made decisions about priorities, and we stand by those decisions.
Twenty five years ago today the Lange government was first elected. Annette King, Jim Anderton, Peter Dunne and I were elected as Labour MPs, Lockwood Smith for National. Annie and I had a three year voter imposed break from 1990-93, Jim and Peter went party wandering. Lockwood’s tenure is unbroken.
I’m doing a bit of writing at the moment on ECE changes this century and don’t intend to do anything tonight but record a few anecdotes.
As I was writing this I glanced at my photo with the President of China then ’82, and recalled meeting Gromyko in 1989.
It was reshuffle day today – slightly bittersweet because the loss of my two closest friends in caucus forced it. We’ve lost lots of intellectual grunt and experience with Helen and Michael – the good news is that the new lot are the most talented group I’ve seen – even better than the ’84 crew of which Annie and I are the only survivours still in the Labour Party.
I’m really happy about getting Education back – I think it is one of the big three with Health and Finance and it is the one that can make the biggest long term difference to the country. I’ve had some great feedback including from people who I thought weren’t that supportive a few years ago.
I will take a variety of approaches with the current Minister – if I support what she is doing I won’t hesitate to say so – even if that makes me unpopular with some in the sector and my mates. If I think Nat policy can be tweaked to make it work then I will work with her to tweak it so we will have less to change when Labour regains the Ministry. And if it is just plain wrong I will oppose and propose alternatives.
It has been good reading articles and opinions over the last few weeks – thanks to those who have sent them to me – you will realise now why my interest was restimulated.
