Clare Trevett reports:
Each month, the relentless tread of Statistics New Zealand’s updates on migration echo through Parliament, haunting National with the ghosts of campaigns past.
As Labour’s Spokesperson for Statistics I want to salute Statistics NZ for their indepth data which gives us valuable information on the state of the country.
This year, the innocuously titled “International Travel and Migration” tables have told a tale of ever increasing numbers heading to Australia.
So this week National was again hoping its 2008 campaign billboard – “Wave goodbye to higher taxes, not your loved ones” – had faded from the collective memory.
Migration to Australia has reached record levels and excuses from the PM are wearing thin. I am curious on one thing though.
Following on from the latest reshuffling of departments and ministries where the Department of Building and Housing (among others) was absored into Mobie, does the Government intend to merge Statistics NZ into the so called ‘Super Ministry’ also?
Then Portfolio Minister Maurice Williamson will become a Minister who has the portfolios but no ministries.
And the Super Minister Steven Joyce will have all the ministries but has no portfolio responsibilities. National has just created another precedent of business efficacy! No wonder he IS the minister who is in charge of “innovation (new ideas – reshuffling at a regular pace) and employment (reshuffling does keep everyone, including the media, busy)!
