May 10, 2024
State sector jobs good for stable economy
Labour’s state owned assets spokesperson, Arena Williams, says this month’s Budget will be a test of whether the National-led Government knows how to deliver for New Zealanders.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis this week confirmed tax cuts will be in the Budget, with public sector departments and agencies delivering up cost savings to add to the putea.
Ms Williams says like the last National Government which sold off strategic public assets and borrowed to fund tax cuts, the current Government if focused on the short term.
She says the focus should be on investing for the future, and state owned enterprises are a big part of building public confidence.
“To be able to have a KiwiRail that is going to invest in the things long term, where everyone can see that the construction associated with that work is going to be happening in a region, actually gives everyone certainty that they can get in, invest, get the mahi done, and that they’ll have a pipeline that they can rely on,” Ms Williams says.