1. Finance Minister Willis was asked whether she wanted to change legislation to force the Reserve Bank of NZ to cut capital requirements that are currently being imposed on our Big Banks. She replied, “Whether or not I need to do that is something I’m taking advice on”.
2. Finance Minister Willis was asked yesterday about upping Kiwi Saver contributions. She replied, “I’m seeking advice and taking advice on where we take Kiwi Saver in the future.”
3. Finance Minister Willis was asked how she would increase competition to counter the rip-off prices of the Supermarket Duopoly. She replied, "I will want to seek advice on how do we ensure that we do get a third entrant into this (grocery) sector".
3. Finance Minister Willis was asked how she would increase competition to counter the rip-off prices of the Supermarket Duopoly. She replied, "I will want to seek advice on how do we ensure that we do get a third entrant into this (grocery) sector".
4. Finance Minister Willis, when asked about whether the Reserve Bank could cut spending without sacrificing its "core functions", said that she needed "advice" on the matter.
5. Finance Minister Willis was asked how she'd fund the tax changes in her 2024 budget so they wouldn't increase the budget deficit. She said she was "seeking advice from officials".
6. Finance Minister Willis was asked whether the NZ Super Fund's income should be made tax exempt. Willis replied that she was "asking officials for advice".
7. Finance Minister Willis told the country after cancelling the Cook Strait Ferry contract with Hyundai that she needed to take "independent advice" and so was establishing an "Advisory Group" to advise.
8. Finance Minister Willis said she need to get "advice" on how to better capitalize Kiwibank so it might better compete with the large Australian-owned banks.
6. Finance Minister Willis was asked whether the NZ Super Fund's income should be made tax exempt. Willis replied that she was "asking officials for advice".
7. Finance Minister Willis told the country after cancelling the Cook Strait Ferry contract with Hyundai that she needed to take "independent advice" and so was establishing an "Advisory Group" to advise.
8. Finance Minister Willis said she need to get "advice" on how to better capitalize Kiwibank so it might better compete with the large Australian-owned banks.
9. Finance Minister Willis, when asked about the taxpayers exposure to the collapse of Solar Zero, to which the government owned Green Investment Fund had lent $115 million, said she was "seeking urgent advice".
10. Finance Minister Willis, when asked about employee bonuses at Radio NZ for proficiency in Te Reo Māori said she was "seeking advice on how to stop the bonuses being negotiated in future"
Want me to go on and on? All of these decisions depend entirely on your own pre-prepared economic plan and the aims you wish to achieve. Once you have worked out that plan (in Opposition) then you can already answer every one of the above questions. The only advice you then need is on the implementation details. That is how economics works.
When former PM Ardern came to power, the Nats said she had no economic plan. So she started endless reviews about everything to give her some clues. Now it has become abundantly apparent that the National Party's own Finance Minister is also making it up as she goes along.
That being said, its obvious National should be given another term, just because Labour were so awful last time. But its also obvious the Nats have come to power with few ideas & need to ask for advice on everything, even when to go to the bathroom. The problem with this "strategy" is that, when it comes to economic advice, you can always find opposing views, with strong arguments both ways. So you must have already developed your own deep thoughts about what you want to achieve & how to get there. It is clear both Labour & National have not done their homework, other than about how to obtain & maintain power.
When former PM Ardern came to power, the Nats said she had no economic plan. So she started endless reviews about everything to give her some clues. Now it has become abundantly apparent that the National Party's own Finance Minister is also making it up as she goes along.
That being said, its obvious National should be given another term, just because Labour were so awful last time. But its also obvious the Nats have come to power with few ideas & need to ask for advice on everything, even when to go to the bathroom. The problem with this "strategy" is that, when it comes to economic advice, you can always find opposing views, with strong arguments both ways. So you must have already developed your own deep thoughts about what you want to achieve & how to get there. It is clear both Labour & National have not done their homework, other than about how to obtain & maintain power.
Professor Robert MacCulloch holds the Matthew S. Abel Chair of Macroeconomics at Auckland University. He has previously worked at the Reserve Bank, Oxford University, and the London School of Economics. He runs the blog Down to Earth Kiwi from where this article was sourced.
9 comments:
Yes.
Given her degree in English Lit. and post-gradate qualification in Journalism I have zero faith that Willis can analyze and interpret the "advice" she receives. Just another hack MP promoted way beyond her level of competence.
It wasn't hard to obtain power, but it's maintenance? Even on the latter they appear wilfully ignorant.
I would rather have someone who will take advice rather than blunder on like the previous government.
Advice tends to reflect more than one opinion - could be worse !
Standard fob off. When she did the cross party thing on housing intensity and height with Megan Woods, her comment about any concern was “get over it because that’s how it’s going to be” No wonder she can’t get elected as an elected MP
Ms Willis - " was attending a craft fair and was asked by one of the organizers if she had ever considered knitting, quilting or macrame".
Her reply was " not something that I have considered, but now you mention it, i will seek advisement on which one I should pursue".
Can someone ring Ruth Richardson, please.
Well said Ken. The “Peter Principle” comes to mind; and, let us start with the bald-headed fellow leading these goons who are so out of their depth.
In fact, the lot of them are the converse of the Peter Principle : every position is filled by an incompetent person. The story of the majority of the parliamentarians keeping their seats warm.
If the advisers Willis keeps referring to are from the previous administration, there isn’t much hope for change, is there?!
As one of the many Aucklanders who put considerable time into the very thorough and forward thinking (and expensive) Auckland Regional Plan of a few years ago (not to mention contribution through rates).I was disgusted at her dismissal of it. A family member bought at price peak a mid suburb 1920s life home for a pleasant environment within reasonable distance of city work. Only , despite the recent thorough ARP, to have it rezoned for 6 stories hard alongside. A disaster worse than a (foreseeable) new Flood Zone but without compensation . It would be great to vote for a party or coalition without having to grit teeth.
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