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?
And the old school farmers who still think national is their party and if "their party" tells them the country is broke then it must be broke and labour are the devil (recently had a convo about this, tried to put them right....)
I am wondering what Nicola NoBoats thinks failure looks like.
—Its not no surplus in this government’s term we learned yesterday.
—Its not more children hungry. Shes good with that.
—Its not more unemployed, she’s good with that.
— Its not more bottom feeders. The more the merrier and happy xmas. (No Christ in the National Party’s xnas).
—Its not more people living on the street, she sees that as much better than them being in emergency accomodation.
—Its not an increase in family violence.
What is failure for Nicky?
—Its not more in prison. Woohoo, money to be made by her cronies there. Lets get the kids there quicker, is her motto, boot camps here we come, scupper trauma support for children and famillies, uplift more brown babies. Money to be made. She’s all for it.
—Its not no ferries until 2029.
—Its not the death of nz’s rail system, she’s really really keen on that. Big smile for the trucking lobby. Lets help them plow up our roads — there’s money to be made fixing the roads.
What is failure for Nicky?
—Its not more deaths from road fatalities, lack of immunisation, smoking, guns, lack of timely operations or medical care. Just bottom feeders, so all good. The ‘wealthy and sorted’ don’t have these problems.
—Its not a decrease in immunisation.
—Its not doctors making hospital beds or not enough doctors or nurses for the sick.
— Irs not more nz sick due to mouldy housing, lack of insulation, cant afford heating, smoking, car accidents. Shes fine with all that, as mostly affects thise pesky bottom feeders.
—Its not health being scuppered by inadequate IT. She goes private. Can you imagine her in ER for 10 hours waiting to be seen? Would probably go to Aus for anything the private in NZ cant do.
—Its not all the skilled nzers emigrating. Not sure she has any concept of skill shortage.
What does failure look like for Nicola?
—Maybe Atlas followers saying ‘tut tut’ ?
—Maybe landlords saying ‘its still not fair’?
—Maybe National voters saying “umm?”?
—Maybe Seymour saying “not austere enough”?
—Maybe polls taking her or the party popularity below , umm, below what?
From 20:10. Interesting observations on UK Treasury officials from an Oxford professor of Economics and Public Policy, particularly concerning their disdain for Local Government. Wondering if this has any relevance to NZ Treasury.
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.
And the old school farmers who still think national is their party and if "their party" tells them the country is broke then it must be broke and labour are the devil (recently had a convo about this, tried to put them right....)
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.
I am wondering what Nicola NoBoats thinks failure looks like.
—Its not no surplus in this government’s term we learned yesterday.
—Its not more children hungry. Shes good with that.
—Its not more unemployed, she’s good with that.
— Its not more bottom feeders. The more the merrier and happy xmas. (No Christ in the National Party’s xnas).
—Its not more people living on the street, she sees that as much better than them being in emergency accomodation.
—Its not an increase in family violence.
What is failure for Nicky?
—Its not more in prison. Woohoo, money to be made by her cronies there. Lets get the kids there quicker, is her motto, boot camps here we come, scupper trauma support for children and famillies, uplift more brown babies. Money to be made. She’s all for it.
—Its not no ferries until 2029.
—Its not the death of nz’s rail system, she’s really really keen on that. Big smile for the trucking lobby. Lets help them plow up our roads — there’s money to be made fixing the roads.
What is failure for Nicky?
—Its not more deaths from road fatalities, lack of immunisation, smoking, guns, lack of timely operations or medical care. Just bottom feeders, so all good. The ‘wealthy and sorted’ don’t have these problems.
—Its not a decrease in immunisation.
—Its not doctors making hospital beds or not enough doctors or nurses for the sick.
— Irs not more nz sick due to mouldy housing, lack of insulation, cant afford heating, smoking, car accidents. Shes fine with all that, as mostly affects thise pesky bottom feeders.
—Its not health being scuppered by inadequate IT. She goes private. Can you imagine her in ER for 10 hours waiting to be seen? Would probably go to Aus for anything the private in NZ cant do.
—Its not all the skilled nzers emigrating. Not sure she has any concept of skill shortage.
What does failure look like for Nicola?
—Maybe Atlas followers saying ‘tut tut’ ?
—Maybe landlords saying ‘its still not fair’?
—Maybe National voters saying “umm?”?
—Maybe Seymour saying “not austere enough”?
—Maybe polls taking her or the party popularity below , umm, below what?
How low can she go and still feel like a winner?
Maybe it will take a snap election.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f51urcvWmsM
From 20:10. Interesting observations on UK Treasury officials from an Oxford professor of Economics and Public Policy, particularly concerning their disdain for Local Government. Wondering if this has any relevance to NZ Treasury.
Just a reminder from Jonathon Milne last year