Prime Minister Christopher Luxon lashes banks over withdrawal of lending to petrol stations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon fired a salvo at the chief executives of New Zealand’s largest banks saying it was “utterly unacceptable” that some were withdrawing banking services from businesses like petrol stations and mines. He made the remarks at the same time as delivering a spirited defence of staying in the Paris climate agreement.
He repeated that this was “unacceptable” four times in his remarks, which were made during his weekly interview on Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking Breakfast.
“I don’t know how much clearer we can be, but certainly we’re losing a lot of patience,” Luxon said.
“If the CEOs are hearing me right now we are incredibly frustrated about it, go back and think about it.”
Luxon said the banks should go back to offering banking services to petrol stations and coal mines. He said these were services New Zealanders relied on and the banks should continue to offer them services.
Is Luxon getting worse at doing interviews or are the problems he’s causing with his counter productive policies already starting to bite him in Therese.
Firstly, on the Banks, what happened to allowing the free market to do what it does? These banks have decided the necessity of decarbonising to save the planet and capitalism, why is the Prime Minister stepping in to tell Banks what they can and can’t do?
Why is the small Government Party always acting like nanny State on meath when. it’s a culture war issue?
IN THE SAME INTERVIEW Luxon says we don’t have enough electric cars to replace the pretol requirements YET HE WAS THE ONE WHO SLASHED THE EV REBATE!
IN THE SAME INTERVIEW he argues we need to stay within the Paris Accord, DESPITE demanding Banks still allow petrol and coal mines to bank with them and DESPITE slashing the EV subsidy!
He’s arguing about solutions to problems he has made worse with his policy!
At some point the rest of you are going to see through this sophistry right?
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Luxon is of course correct we all know that, banks should be banks, not moral arbiters.
The Paris Agreement is pathetic, a feel good piece of stupidity.
Does it not occur to you that the banks are just making sensible business decisions? While you are obviously unable to understand cause and effect in environmental impacts the wise people who make lending decisions at the bank want to be sure that they will be paid back so they consider the future. Just because you don’t agree with something doesn’t make it a moral decision.
He can’t understand, that would require intellect.
Bob has Dunning Kruger Effect.
Complete nonsense.
Bob the first – Correct on both counts…The background story of the Paris Agreement is a story of dishonest actors.
Good to see you heeded my grammatical advice Bob and put a space after a comma, your apology is accepted given your previous immature response.
Thank you Squeaky.
You just have to shake your head in disbelief…how stupid can anyone be?…especially the leader of a country…
Oh yes …i know …as stupid as Willis, Seymour, Brown and Bishop et al…yep…all pretty much on the same level….there’s whole bunch of stupidity out there at the moment raining down on N.Z.
Will it get better under this lot…short answer …No!!!!
The insurance companies are the next ones Luxon will have to give a jolly good talking to soon as well.
They can also see the writing on the wall ….that being… the devastation that climate change will cause to coastal properties around the country. Expect them to withdraw from insuring many of those and floodplain properties in the very near future thus plummeting their property values.
Banks and insurance companies are risk averse entities.
Luxon should know this… Clearly …and unfortunately …not! He’s a denier of all things hindering his much vaunted growth plan….whatever that might be??
It’s looking like Jacinda and Robertson were miles ahead in their thinking than the woke right and this clown.
YES THE WELL BEING BUDGETS WERE AHEAD OF THEIR TIME .Banks and insurance companies are taking the correct path .I am sure no bank wants to lend to a business with a short or no future .The couple next door used to own the local petrol station and were relieved to have sold it last year as it was a night mare for them with constant battles to keep it afloat .Without the tire shop attached to the service station they would have closed as there is no money in selling fuel .
Stupid comments.
DONT talk about your self in that way Bob you cant help your failings just accept you are stupid and move on
Great comment, while we are disappointed that Labour did not do as much as we hoped while they were in charge they made the mistake of listening to all the voices and allowing those with any concerns to have a say. The media amplified any objections and prevented a lot of progress. Now we have a government that refuses to listen to what the people want as they implement the wish list of their donor’s and the media is silent.
Nonsense.
We used to have a 9 year political cycle. Oz seems to be down to 3. I thought another term would be certain for these guys.
Pretending everything is normal with climate change’s deadline here, which both our big parties do, no longer holds up through even one term. The poli that speaks truth has our country for 20 years.
You’ve made a good case about this govt being Key 2. Their difference is they are much keener on the short bump of more economic growth to justify their rule. As also you point out ‘that’ll be the day’.
Luxon is right here. The banks have no business debanking service stations.
Net zero banking was started in 2021 with 140 major banks involved but since Trumps election the 6 major USA banks have pulled out.
Luxon is right on target to try and stop the banks isolation of NZ other wise we will be left behind.
What I’d say unto Thee @ Trev is we need Bank of America and Chevron in here. That’d ensure competition and “growth”. It’d be a win win situation in that space, (going forward).
no surprises here. big C Conservatives are entitled bludgers who think they own the place and are eNTitLeD too tell everyone what to do. BNZ should tell Lord Baron wannabe Luxon to mind his own business.
It’s classic. A bank came out championing CGT not so long ago, and now they dare to have their own sustainability policies. Watching the roll on deodorant and “I’ve delivered” getting all flustered as they wonder why multinational organisations take such steps, is just glorious.
“These banks have decided the necessity of decarbonising to save the planet and capitalism, why is the Prime Minister stepping in to tell Banks what they can and can’t do?” Because the banks could decide that its not worth their time to open or maintain accounts for unemployed people. Don’t get me wrong I hate coal and fossil fuels as much as the next guy but when institutions like banks start deciding who is worthy of support its just a matter of time before they start expanding that list.
Try getting an account if you are an ex prisoner. The situations regarding unemployed people and business sustainability are completely different so your attempting to link them to justify some anti government agenda is wrong.
Why is it different?
Because the situation with each unemployed person is not necessarily the same. Unless there is a government law prohibiting the banks from offering accounts to unemployed people the banks will assess each application on its merit, I’m sure that there are employed people who find it difficult to get a bank account because of their past financial activity which is a natural result in any situation where risk is involved. Regarding high carbon emission activities the bank is allowed to make its own decisions, any governments ability to pick winners is not that good and this government has shown absolutely no financial ability so taking their advice is about as useful as taking a poison pill.
I watched the clip linked above, and it absolutely reinforced why Luxon is so damn unlovable.
What will he do when the banks all say fuck you you tin pot nation we are off and turn out the lights and sack all the local staff .
That is why we are lucky they make good money from us
fuck off we are a very small population .They deal with cities bigger than us .We just think we are propping them up .Yes they make a profit from us as do other companies like micro soft and the company that owns the smelter which we directly subsidize daily while they make 8 billion in profits world wide .Do those companies pay tax at the 28% rate ?I think not
Sophistry? I wish it could be that good. He makes sounds like a wild goose chasing small children for their sandwiches.
This climate nonsense is ridiculous.
Banking is a basic right as no one can now function solely with cash
The UK banks debanked Nigel Farage because of his politics and got hammered. Trudeau froze Canadians bank accounts illegally and is gone.
A licence to bank should mean all people who need accounts