Good to see Radio NZ injecting some facts into the mainstream media debate about the wage gap between New Zealand and Australia. Their story this morning is based on Treasury papers that show there was a slight closing of the wage gap in the last nine years (2.6%) compared to a 50% blowout in the 1990s under National.
Credit where it is due, this has been covered at length on The Standard over recent months. While the gap remains large, and needs to close, I have to say I have tried hard on the campaign trail to get the message across that we have been keeping pace with Australia in the last nine years. This is no mean feat with the minerals boom across the ditch. At the Karori Meet the Candidates meeting when I made this very point I was shouted at by various National supporters that this could not be true. It is.
As Michael Cullen says in the RNZ story, one of the keys to continuing to close the gap is regular and solid increases in the minimum wage. Labour has increased it every year in office, and the good Dr has signalled there will be more to say about this in the election campaign.
We also need to improve productivity through increased skills and training, investment in R and D and infrastructure, and improving practices in the workplace. What we don’t need is a return to the policies of the 90s that saw the gap blowout in the first place.
Today, October the 2nd is Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday. This morning I spoke at a celebration at his statue outside the Wellington Railway Station. I have always liked the statue at the station. It is a welcome addition to the public art in the city, and the legacy of peace and non-violence that Ghandi left is an excellent one for Wellington to celebrate. A school group from the Rudolf Steiner school in Belmont performed, and are pictured above, along with members of the Indian community in Wellington.
A great morning to be out and about in Wellington. Lots of supportive toots for the teams we had out at the intersections. I spoke to one senior citizen who was particularly pleased about the increased hearing aid subsidy that comes into force today. As I said when he heads into town to see the audiologist, he will be able to take the bus for free here in Wellington during off-peak times! The tax cuts will also be a welcome boost for household budgets. Now is the right time to be delivering this relief, but it is worth repeating that while this package is fair and affordable, what we seem likely to hear from National will be predicated on reckless borrowing and/or cuts to public services. Even Rodney Hide is worried that their policy lacks credibility. On Morning Report he said that they could not credibly promise to keep Labour programmes and offer further tax cuts. With friends like that….
I try to keep things pretty positive on this blog. But forgive me today if I have a brief rant. Tony Ryall’s letter to the Auckland District Health Board is a shocker. In it Mr Ryall warns the DHB about not promoting positive news stories lest they be associated with the Labour Government. The National Party has made a great deal of supposed political interference in the public service, but this is one of the most blatant examples you could see. This is a direct attempt to influence and politicise the health sector.
Tony Ryall’s record when it comes to respect for the public service is pretty poor. His call for a bureaucratic bonfire is just one example of how he views hard-working health sector workers.
Anyway, in the spirit of positivity, and on the subject of Health, can I recommend this excellent speech from David Cunliffe last week. It provides a comprehensive summary of the Labour-led Government’s approach to primary healthcare over the last nine years, and an indication of priorities for the future.
The principles that will guide the next stage of work will be
Sustaining low cost access
Better linking public and community-based providers, and
Developing and rolling out new service delivery models.
A key element in implementing these principles is a renewed push to see PHOs lead the way in bringing together primary healthcare services across traditional boundaries. There are some great examples of this around the country that could be rolled out nationwide. Families being able to deal with a range of healthcare issues in a ‘one stop shop’ environment is critical to improving our health and well-being. It is a well thought out and practical vision for healthcare in New Zealand.
On November 8th New Zealanders have a choice about the kind of society that they want to live in.The record of the Helen Clark led Labour Government is a fair, prosperous, inclusive and independent country.The alternative is a society where the divide between rich and poor grows, and where exclusion and intolerance can grow.
Kiwis today have more security to make choices for their families as a result of the investments Labour has made over the last nine years. Working For Families, Kiwisaver, 20 hours free early childhood education, interest free student loans, increases to the minimum wage and four weeks annual leave among other policies are making a real difference to people’s lives.
National is on the record as opposing all of these policies. The truth is these advances are only safe with a Labour led government.
In the future Labour will continue to invest in the people who will drive our economy through investing in education, skills and innovation.We will continue to invest in health, education, housing and other key elements of a fair society. We are also focused on protecting and enhancing our environment for future generations.
Wellington has done well with a Labour-led government. We have invested in public transport, and supported the public services and creative industries that are the life-blood of the city. I am committed to continuing to stand up for Wellington if I am elected as MP.
I am campaigning on the positive differences that Labour has made to people lives, here in Wellington and right around New Zealand. We live in a great city and a great country and the choice the country makes on the 8th of November will decide if we build on the gains of the last nine years.
UPDATE: TV3 filmed our team out campaigning in Wellington on Friday night. The clip is here.
