After the last election, the Prime Minister, John Key, warned his colleagues in the National Party not to be arrogant in this term of government. Looking at recent events, it appears this warning has been ignored, including by the PM himself.
The government has been mired in a series of failed policies that raise serious questions about their economic competency. The Auditor-General is now investigating the scandal of $11.5 million paid to a wealthy Saudi Arabian businessman for setting up a hub in the desert to take live sheep exported from New Zealand. The government responded to Green Party questioning with denial and flimsy excuses that show all the signs of arrogance. When the government contractor, Serco failed to keep order in Mt Eden prison, with fights involving prison guards shown on social media, the government let Serco off $600,000 of penalties due under their contract. And the government’s poor governance contributed to the bankruptcy of the State-owned company, Solid Energy, likely to cost hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayers’ funds.
Government policies have also failed the environment and damaged to New Zealand’s valuable national reputation, which is essential for exporters of our primary products. The government stubbornly continues to put our environment at risk through offshore oil drilling, commercial fishing in the habitat of the endangered Maui dolphin and mining. Our forests are still being converted to dairy farms, polluting our rivers and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. With the world’s spotlight on climate change this year, New Zealand’s domestic emissions are amongst the highest per person in the world. Our clean, green reputation is under threat.
The government has governed for the rich, not for the poor. While cold and dampness are contributing to sickness and death for vulnerable children, NZ Housing made profits of $118 million last year. And rather than managing the housing stock well, the government is now selling it off at bargain-basement prices. The government is ignoring the crisis in housing, especially in Auckland, as landlords get rich but tenants suffer from unaffordable prices, unhealthy houses and few legal rights. The rules are rigged in favour of property owners.
The Green Party has consistently called the government to account for its failed policies, and put forward positive policies that would be better for the economy, for the environment and for social wellbeing. The recent opinion polls show a drop in support for the National Party and a big increase for the Green Party. It is a sign that the public are waking up to the government’s arrogance and poor performance, and a growing number of people are looking to the Greens for better policies.
Barry Coates is 16 on the Green Party list, just outside Parliament. www.greens.org.nz