Willis says she’ll double-down on spending cuts to get back to surplus earlier than Treasury forecast in HYEFU; Councils, doctors, nurses, builders blame austerity for unnecessary & extended recession
Thanks for this reporting and analysis. Along with your other work over the year, it's good to see how engaging your journalism is.
It's a pessimist's week though. It seems certain that things are going to get harder for people. Mainstream media don't (yet) buy the idea that this is austerity or, if it is, that it is the dangerous kind. The Kaka is an echo chamber for the most part of acolytes who follow Bernard (is the term for that a Hickolyte?). Fair enough, but it is a narrow spectrum of opinion.
In solutions news, people who aren't tied down should leave for other shores. The next five to ten years are going to be ugly. Australia is the most obvious place on nearly every metric.
Bodget 😁 - Freudian slip? I couldn't think of a better term for the fools in charge's work. Unfortunately it occurs to me that in reducing government spend to <30% of GDP they're in danger of reducing GDP creating a scary vicious circle
Cuts to continue until the bleeding stops. Just another death-spiral this Govt is leaning into, alongside it's abnegation of effective emissions reductions. These results are happening under relatively benign conditions - this Govt is yet to face an actual crisis not of its own making. The first-order "thinkers" at the top of this team are not equipped to handle a complex, adaptive crisis like a global trade war or the fall out of a severe natural disaster.
The joke is they were given the best gift possible coming in. Inflation (local and global) had already started to turn, interest rates were coming down, and the Govt books were solid. They literally could have done nothing, and been given all the credit for turning things around. The economy probably would be doing alright in a BAU way that is 'good enough' for swing voters (especially when you add their built in positive association between National and the economy). Instead they made the Truss mistake of actually believing their own campaign rhetoric and trying to implement it.
That’s the scary part, the chance of a real crisis hitting, in a world of increasing climate disasters, isn’t low. This government isn’t emotionally mature enough, let alone competent enough, to face a real challenge.
It will be interesting when Luxflakes hero (US) bring in tariffs and give us a bill for our part in AUKUS (US has been clear its about cutting their defence spending).
So if the ACC finances were removed from reporting on the basis that they not related to any need for the government to tax (and totally by coincidence make the accounts look bad), are there any other government organisations that are similarly not related but are making the books look better?
Hi Bernard, what you have there is an Australian weta! The wings are the giveaway feature. They've really proliferated since arriving around 1990.
I don't think they are counted in the immigration statistics, lol.
What's made them grow wings in Australia? Interbreeding with other species?
Just a different species. From 'straya so painful bite but luckily not poisonous!
Kia ora Bernard
Thanks for this reporting and analysis. Along with your other work over the year, it's good to see how engaging your journalism is.
It's a pessimist's week though. It seems certain that things are going to get harder for people. Mainstream media don't (yet) buy the idea that this is austerity or, if it is, that it is the dangerous kind. The Kaka is an echo chamber for the most part of acolytes who follow Bernard (is the term for that a Hickolyte?). Fair enough, but it is a narrow spectrum of opinion.
In solutions news, people who aren't tied down should leave for other shores. The next five to ten years are going to be ugly. Australia is the most obvious place on nearly every metric.
Except summer temperatures - nice cool change today
So no money for Eden Park from Auckland Council from now on then? Maybe Bill Foley will fund it for Auckland FC?
Bodget 😁 - Freudian slip? I couldn't think of a better term for the fools in charge's work. Unfortunately it occurs to me that in reducing government spend to <30% of GDP they're in danger of reducing GDP creating a scary vicious circle
Cuts to continue until the bleeding stops. Just another death-spiral this Govt is leaning into, alongside it's abnegation of effective emissions reductions. These results are happening under relatively benign conditions - this Govt is yet to face an actual crisis not of its own making. The first-order "thinkers" at the top of this team are not equipped to handle a complex, adaptive crisis like a global trade war or the fall out of a severe natural disaster.
The joke is they were given the best gift possible coming in. Inflation (local and global) had already started to turn, interest rates were coming down, and the Govt books were solid. They literally could have done nothing, and been given all the credit for turning things around. The economy probably would be doing alright in a BAU way that is 'good enough' for swing voters (especially when you add their built in positive association between National and the economy). Instead they made the Truss mistake of actually believing their own campaign rhetoric and trying to implement it.
That’s the scary part, the chance of a real crisis hitting, in a world of increasing climate disasters, isn’t low. This government isn’t emotionally mature enough, let alone competent enough, to face a real challenge.
It will be interesting when Luxflakes hero (US) bring in tariffs and give us a bill for our part in AUKUS (US has been clear its about cutting their defence spending).
So if the ACC finances were removed from reporting on the basis that they not related to any need for the government to tax (and totally by coincidence make the accounts look bad), are there any other government organisations that are similarly not related but are making the books look better?
Approximately 15 months into their term and this govt is still blaming the last govt...
That's a bit special.
Let her do it I say, Kiwi's are really resilient and she will ensure the first 1 term government in NZ. God help us all if they get in next election.
except for the residential rental property owners and the trucking firms who the current government are massively financing/funding.
The long neoliberal con by Dr Ryan Ward is interesting (and disturbing) reading.
More of: "Everyone is wrong! We are the only ones who know better!" It is so decadent and colonial.