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Source: Radio NZ – Tackling unemployment would be Clark’s priority
Listen: Radio NZ – Helen Clark on Sunday Morning
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No doubt John Key will make some derisory, dismissive response to Ms Clark’s justified concerns. He’ll conveniently forget that under Labour, unemployment dropped to record lows;
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Source: New Zealand Unemployed Persons
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Source: New Zealand Unemployed Rate
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Of course, there was the Global Financial Crisis and the resultant recession, but…
- That same rationale is not extended to the unemployed, solo-mums, and others, who are painted as wilfull “dole bludgers”, “druggies”/”alcoholics”/”gamblers”, “work shy”, “irresponsible breeders”, etc, by Bennett, Key, and other National Ministers. For them, the excuse of a global crisis that destroyed millions of jobs doesn’t factor in (see: World unemployment figures set to rise in 2013, claims UN labour agency).
- Aside from the Christchurch re-build National has done very little to implement job creation policies. A buy-NZ for governmenment procurement would help boost employment, instead of sending jobs overseas by buying from low-wage societies.
- Job training and upskilling of unemployed has been so poor that workers from overseas are being brought into the country to make up for a skills-shortage.
- Even a project such as the dodgy Skycity convention centre appears to have over-inflated job numbers. (see: Puzzle of Key’s extra casino jobs)
So before Key predictably opens his mouth and blames others for our chronically high unemployment rate, he could do well to ponder these points.
Anyway, when it suits Key, he is only too happy to invoke Ms Clark’s well-deserved reputation as an effective Prime Minister. Note his constant references to the former Prime Minister when it suits him – especially over the GCSB and associated legislation;
“That is just the way things are,” he said. “We live in a global environment where there are real threats, that’s the point we make with the GCSB legislation, it is why Helen Clark passed the legislation in 2003.”
And,
“It is obviously small numbers but there are small numbers of radicalised New Zealanders, who have either gone over into those environments or returned, and I don’t think this is terribly new, I suspect Helen Clark would have signed warrants as well.”
Source: TVNZ – Spy law legislation passes second reading
If Key is finding it chilly right about now, it’s because he is standing in the the shadow of his predecessor. Ms Clark certainly did not repeatedly blame others for her failings.
Something else Key might consider.
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= fs =
But how can he Frank – take responsibility that is?
Free Marketerrism is all about passing the buck, lying, being greedy and being as nasty as possible to make money. Who cares if you kill a few disabled and babies on the way, money is a god to be worshipped. And dam you to the cold halls of Hades, if you disagree.
Free Marketerrism is all the about angst and fear – So Mr Key as the arch-bishop of this perversion of western thinking – won’t be honest, take responsibility or play fair. He can’t and hold onto his precious
Free Marketerrism is all about the precious – the precious – the precious.
Ideology is a beast we worship at, at our own peril.
The only reason why workers are being brought in from overseas is because NZ businesses don’t want to pay NZ rates for them, i.e, they’re busy forcing down wages.
Do you have evidence for this?
Are not the workers coming in to NZ subject to the same labour market regulations like the minimum wage?
You’ve just answered your own question.
Correct. They will be subject to the same market regulations like the minimum wage. So why are we not migrating our dole cues down to Christchurch for the rebuild? Overseas workers should not even come into conversation when our unemployment rate is also being scrutinized at this time.
FIX THE BUS, don’t crash a brand new one. I could imagine it would be less of a headache financial and logistically helping New Zealanders help New Zealanders… Am I the only one who sees the win win here? Christchurch would make a great “on site” training industry.
Im positive people would be over the moon to get an income and training, rather than the benefit and daily WINZ appointments to no where.
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