Politics is rather turbulent right now, with allegations flying, questions being asked and Media circuses around the country.
Sadly the people that lose out from this situation are New Zealanders wanting to consider what a future government will look like and the policies that it might pursue.
As National heads to the election, we are relentlessly focused on issues that matter to New Zealanders. We are also focused on building on the successes of the past five plus years and continuing to work for New Zealand in the future.
Economy focused
The economy has been a significant focus of the past two terms as our Nation has been recovering from the impact of the Global Financial Crisis.
It has not been easy for our country, but hard work across the board is now paying dividends. As Prime Minister John Key now heads into the September 20 election, he does so with New Zealand back on track to Budget surplus this year, supported by good growth, more jobs, and higher incomes.
In a transparent update of the Government’s books before the election, Treasury confirmed that New Zealanders have an opportunity to build on their hard-won gains of recent years – provided that we stick with National’s successful programme.
This is not the time to put New Zealand’s good progress at risk with more taxes and sharply higher government spending. That would put pressure on families and households through higher interest rates and fewer jobs.
Irresponsible politics
The Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update issued last fortnight forecasts that a Budget surplus for this year is still modest at $297 million and surpluses in subsequent years are not large. Yet, we already have political parties making expensive promises – Labour and the Greens have so far notched up more than $28 billion in spending promises with the election still a month away.
It is encouraging to see the progress New Zealand is making through the hard work of households and businesses up and down the country.
The economy remains on track to average growth of around 3% over the next four years, which is above New Zealand’s long-run performance.
Brighter prospects
Most importantly for New Zealanders and their families, the employment market is picking up and steady wage growth is forecast.
An additional 83,000 jobs were created in the year to June. We are on track for around 150,000 new jobs by mid-2018, with unemployment forecast to fall to 4.5%, down from 5.6% in June this year.
This is reflected in forecasts for wage growth. Average wages are predicted to increase by $6600 to around $62,000 over the next four years.
Finally, we are continuing to improve results from our public services in areas that really matter – such as lower crime, higher educational achievement, and more New Zealanders moving from welfare into work.
Should the John Key-led Government be re-elected, we will press on with a programme of improvement and reform aimed at delivering the gains that make a difference for New Zealand families.
New Zealand is on track, growing, and the future is bright. A third term would allow us to make the most of the once-in-a-generation opportunity that the Government and New Zealanders have together created to lift our country’s performance.
Jami-Lee Ross is (National Party) Member of Parliament elected from Botany Electorate in Auckland. He is also the Third Government Whip.
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Photo :
Prime Minister John Key with Jami-Lee Ross (left), Irvinder Kaur and Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi at the Shri Dasmesh Gurdwara, Papatoetoe, South Auckland on August 17, 2014.
