3 News polls mums and dads
Turns out that not many “mums and dads” are planning to buy shares in their own assets.
privatisation
Nats don’t believe their own education policy
As usual it is the kids who will suffer.
The illusion of consultation
For some reason the Nats are in a hurry to complete their privatisation programme within two years. Anyone in any doubt as to how the process of consultation with Maori will play out might be informed by some recent history.
The luxury of an ethical opposition
Although Key’s privatisation programme has hit plenty of problems with Maori water rights, his job is made a whole lot easier by the luxury of an ethical main opposition party.
Asset sale delay likely
Even John Key is now admitting that the asset sale program is facing a serious legal challenge, and that delays in the sales are likely. Any such delay would have several implications…
Iwi and the riverbeds
The only remaining possible legal threat to the Nats’ plans to sell off our power companies is a Treaty based claim to water rights or riverbeds.
Sale of the century
So – what kind of person does well out of asset sales?…
Privatisation bill passed
They’re quite literally selling our country down the river.
51% swindle averted
It looks like the Nats’ attempt to pull a swindle on the meaning of “51% ownership” has been averted.
Will Dunne heed his own poll on asset sales?
United Future are polling the public about their support for partial privatisation. Will Peter Dunne heed his own poll?
Emerson on privatisation
Who really benefits from asset sales
Brent Sheather assesses the case for asset sales in today’s Herald. He cuts through the crap and concludes “selling the SOEs doesn’t look all that clever, particularly from the perspective of young people and those other sectors of society who won’t be able to participate in the offers in any material way. This is likely to be at least half the population.” He looks at who really benefits, and it’s the fortunate few once again.
Will Bill English heed his own warning?
Will double dipping double downgrade Bill English have the guts to heed his own warning?
Are PPPs the best we can do?
A good piece in the Herald by Max Rashbrook on the high costs of PPPs (public private partnerships) with the new Wiri prison […]
“Mum and Dad investors”
No Right Turn on National’s spin about “Mum and Dad investors”.
Labour billboard campaign
Labour have been running a competition to crowd source their billboard design. Here is the winner, which (see Red Alert) will be going up around Wellington shortly. It’s going to provoke some controversy.
The benefits of public spending
We know from history, and from our own recent experience, that tax cuts don’t cause growth. Privatisation and public service cuts don’t do us any good either. What does cause growth? Public spending. What’s more, public spending is much more efficient than the private sector too…
Contact Energy: A Case Study
We could look at bailed-out TranzRail and Air NZ, with privatisation leading to risk-free pay-outs for the temporary owners of infrastructure that couldn’t be allowed to fail. Or Telecom that doesn’t look out for NZers interests, and needs us to pay for it to build us a fibre network. But let’s look at the “success” story of Contact, the closest privatisation to National’s new plans.
Why selling assets won’t solve our debt problem
John Key is busy raising the canard of our economy being as indebted as the PIIGS countries that are in trouble in Europe. He’s talking about net foreign debt, and he’s suggesting lowering government debt is the solution. But New Zealand’s debt problem is not a government debt problem, and with asset sales he has the wrong solution to the wrong problem.
Privatising Infrastructure by Stealth
Government IT projects are easy to take aim at, but this isn’t a hit at their lack of thinking or actions on UFB.
This is about them privatising their entire computing systems, preferably without being noticed; paying the least they can to a corporation to take care of your most personal data.
National’s Privatisation Agenda Continues
National are continuing their privatisation by stealth. Hospitals services and a new prison are the current targets. Tony Ryall, Judith Collins and Bill English are the ministers currently pushing their ideology in their respective areas.
Brown picks up momentum
It’s interesting to look at the trend behind the headline 11 point poll lead Len Brown has opened up over John Banks as […]
Privatising water
Although the topic has had a turbulent and confused couple of weeks, it seems that National want to privatise Auckland’s water supply. Govt […]
A leopard doesn’t change his spots
There is a very revealing quote from John Banks in the weekend’s Dominion Post where he talks about his campaign strategy: Uptown, Auckland […]
Rodneytactics, Rogernomics and dog-whistle DonKey
The tactics used by Rodney Hide to ram through the Auckland SuperCity legislation without reference to a select committee or referendum should not […]
Hidden costs of private hospitals
If you’re paying for your health care you’d expect good service wouldn’t you? The release of four health commissioner decisions over the weekend and […]
Buy it back
I see that the Wellington lines network has been sold. Given the network has been in in the hands of foreign investors before […]
John Key on asset sales
Once bitten
No surprise to see English fronting the Toll debate given Slippery John’s abysmal performance this week. Check out Bill in the background of […]
First planes, now trains
It is looking more likely that the Government will buy back New Zealand’s rolling rail stock from Australian-based Toll. Toll has been a […]
National: is there anything they won’t privatise?
Burqa Bob wants to buy heartland rugby. In other news, Bill English plans to sell our sunshine hours to a Finnish consortium and […]