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You need money to run a business. You also need money to run an economy and provide core public services. In the first instance, this money comes from customers. In the second instance, it comes out of your pocket as taxes. As a customer, you can choose where you spend your money. As a taxpayer, the Government of the day decides how to spend your money for you.
The non-tradeables sector of the economy, of which the Government is part, grew by more than 15% over the last five years. The tradeables sector, where we earn our living as a trading nation, contracted by 10% over the same period.
All the wailing of the public sector unions ignores this salient fact ignores that the public sector needs to get more value for each dollar spent. At a time when we are asking the private sector to increase productivity, isn’t it right that we should be doing the same with the Government sector?
We were very fortunate last week’s monumental shake off Dusky Sound did no more than give quite a few of us a fright.
Damage was minimal considering the magnitude of the big quake. A fright like that reminds us all that we’re at the mercy of the earth from time to time.
The latest Ministry of Civil Defence survey indicates that while 80% of Kiwis reported they have a good understanding of the potential impacts of a disaster, 41% said they have water and survival items prepared. However, overall only one in every 10 New Zealanders (10%) said they are fully prepared.
If anything, last week’s big shake up should have us all following the Civil Defence emergency plan and preparing a household emergency kit – you can find a copy here. Get ready now, get through any future disaster.
I want to assure everyone that adult and community education is here to stay.
The Government is investing $124 million over the next four years into ACE.
We know these classes are an important stepping stone for learners. However, because of the tough economic conditions, we are refocusing funding for ACE on key areas like literacy and numeracy.
When people lose their jobs, or look to up-skill, it’s important they have the basic foundation skills they need to help them learn, such as reading, writing, and maths. Ensuring people have these skills is high priority.
The choice to refocus ACE towards literacy and numeracy hasn’t been made lightly. We have had to make tough but necessary decisions to prioritise our education spending into areas where it gets the best results.
We have also had to balance spending priorities against unfunded promises over more than $500 million made by the previous Labour government.
Exactly what courses will be funded, and how, will be decided by the Tertiary Education Commission.
Schools that offer ACE can still provide the broad range of classes they always have – but people who choose to study a hobby, or a personal interest course, will need to meet the full cost of this.
Our decisions regarding ACE have been made because of the tough economic conditions the country is facing.
More than 198,000 children are enrolled in early childhood education services across the country. These services are very important so children have the best start in education. That’s why National is increasing funding for early childhood education providers to adjust for inflation.
This brings the early childhood sector’s funding into line with increases in funding for other education sectors announced in the Budget. This is part of a $1.1 billion investment by National into early childhood education this year.
National has extended the 20 hours scheme to playcentres and kōhanga reo. This delivers on our election promise and increases the choices available for parents. And from 1 July 2011, the six-hour daily limit for 20 hours will be removed, giving working parents more options on how they plan their week.
By increasing early childhood education funding, providing establishment grants, and cutting bureaucracy, we are helping more families to access early childhood education and helping to build a strong learning foundation for the next generation.
National’s Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart scheme will help make homes warmer, drier, and healthier for Southlanders, reduce their power bills, and provide jobs for local businesses.
We are spending $323.3 million to help insulate and install clean heating in homes built before 2000.
The scheme officially began on 1 July and gives more than 180,000 homes access to grants of up to $1800.
People living in insulated homes are healthier. Warm and dry homes also help people with respiratory or medical problems which can be made worse by living in a cold, damp house.
Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart is also providing vital jobs across the country at a time when businesses are feeling the effects of the economic downturn.
Our goal is to have up to 60,500 homes insulated each year by 2012/13. Visit www.energywise.govt.nz to find out if you are eligible and to find a local installer.
Eric Roy 