4 February 2013
Here is some absolute proof of why this is the worst government we have had in New Zealand since the dark days of Muldoon's dictatorship in the late 1970s and early '80s:
Given this government's appallingly inept attempts to rein in spending, manage the economy, and take the heat out of a ridiculously overpriced Auckland property market, twin geniuses Key & English have decided to look at various budgets to see where cuts can be made.
Keep in mind that proposed government spending for FY2013 is a total of 81 billion dollars. Amongst that, the lion's share is taken up with benefits, ($21bn) health ($14bn) and education ($9.6bn).
An interesting side note is that not only does "defence" cost $3bn annually, it is one of only three departments that don't come in under budget for the year to 31/3/2012. Can you guess the other two? Police and Treaty Negotiations. Yessirree, if you are in the army, navy, air force or police, or are involved in the treaty gravy train, you make bloody sure you come in right on the budget. The extra money will always find a home, and is never questioned, again unlike all other departments. Anyway, that is just bye the bye to the subject, although it does provide some good context.
**Update 21 Feb 2013**
I find it very interesting that our navy was so short of crew that the frigates only spent 60% of the required time at sea during the past 12 months.
Yet they still used their entire budget.
Two small departments have expenditure of $140M annually - Family Court and the Parliamentary Service.
On one hand, you have the Family Court, a system envied by almost every country. New Zealand has a proud history of leading the world in social development - universal suffrage, banning judicial corporal punishment, universal benefits, 8-hour days {what the hell are they, you may ask!} and banning nuclear weapons. The Family Court is another, and its record of impartial service to hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders is impressive. No other country boasts a more independent, sensible or successful system of dealing with relationship breakdowns.
And on the other hand, Parliamentary Services, from its own website: The Parliamentary Service was established in 1985 to provide services to members of Parliament and the House of Representatives, and to administer Parliament's buildings and grounds.
In simple terms, the people who look after the Beehive, Parliament Buildings, and are the servants and helpers of the MPs in their daily lives.
Conundrum for the National Party? Not a shit's show - there was never any question where Keyglish was going to cut: Family Court.
I'm not even going to lower myself to explain why that is outright corrupt behaviour*, but will note that a highly unlikely coalition of lawyers, women's refuges, the Law Society and universities oppose cuts to the service.
*Irony would be Key & English having discussed this over a latte at Bellamy's, whose budget is, of course, included in the Parliamentary Service.
Copyright © Alan Charman