Posts Tagged ‘Bill English’

1. Knowing the price of everything and value of nothing

   Published on Wednesday, October 7th, 2009
   The Greens fess up to “making a mistake” in the way they used the accommodation subsidy for the benefit of their communal super fund; and Labour colleagues again rush to the defense of fellow MP Chris Carter over the largesse of his and his partner’s travel costs.

   Meanwhile Finance Minister Bill English remains battered, bruised and potentially out of pocket over his Ministerial housing accommodation; and PM John Key travels business class to New York with his wife and children in “coach” on the same flight at their own expense.

   The Hon Dr Michael Cullen spat the label of “rich pricks” at National in the early days of the Clark Government. Although on retirement he tried to expunge this jibe, it seems to have found deep roots in the political psyche. 

   Not only does National not harangue the abuses of others, but by its actions, it is beginning to affirm its wealth.

   Apparently it is excusable for the sanctimonious Green’s to rort the system, and a Labour MP to travel on the most tenuous of causes, but the current Government feels it must account to different standard.  Hence English foregoes legitimate expenses to keep his family together in Wellington, and the Prime Minister’s wife travels coach to the USA on “government business.”

   There is a double standard, and it is that we are in an age when our politicians know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

2. A budget for feeding the chooks

   Published on Friday, May 29th, 2009
   Reading an NZPA report of the primary sector’s response to the $190 million growth partnership allocation on yesterday’s budget, it was difficult to escape the mental picture of the chooks being feed.

   Each industry segment – and a few who regard themselves as the industry – was enthusiastically grateful for the morsels from Bill’s bucket. And it was clear that each could singularly spend the $190 million itself…and would be bidding to so do.

   This was refreshing for two reasons. First, and all too few townies recognise it, the primary sector is the “sine qua non” of this country, which loosely translated means without it we’re all buggered. And second, so many groups take government handouts for granted, and the primary sector doesn’t.

   In the scheme of total spending, including the $50 million cycle way, $190 million is small beer. Nevertheless, it is consoling that in such tight fiscal times, the government is making some attempt to grow the sector that underpins our economy. As investments go this might be chicken feed, but has surely got to be one of the best.