The new government has never shied away from the fact that the beginning of their tenure will be intense; however, this week has stretched everyone’s expectations by some margin.
The week passing by has seen some of the most intense activity in the recent history of NZ parliament.
Indeed, the Budget Policy Statement (BPS) and the Treasury’s Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update were eagerly awaited for obvious reasons of establishing or discrediting Labour party’s reputation for running a debt-free government.
In government’s view, their reputation has gone northwards for being able to find money to provide for some of their most popular policies.
“The BPS and the Treasury’s Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update show we can deliver our promises while running sustainable surpluses and paying down debt,” Finance Minister Grant Robertson said.
Expectedly, National Party still-wounded from the post-election coalition talks which denied them a record fourth term in government, decried it as leading towards increasing government debt.
Regardless of this debate now, which still needs to be proven, either way, it has to be acknowledged that this was a phenomenal week for NZ parliament where the fate of several key legislations was mulled, if not decided finally.
Trade Minister David Parker had introduced legislation to ban foreign buyers of existing homes in New Zealand. It is likely that the legislation will be passed early next year, possibly before the signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
However, the main legislation introduced and voted in parliament this week were scrapping of National’s Tax Cuts and bringing-in of Labour’s Families Package.
Both these legislations were the star attraction of respective parties in the campaign just before general elections, and both parties were hoping to have their way in parliament on the fate of these legislations.
In this instance, the Labour Party had the last laugh.
The Labour party’s legislation also included several social schemes social schemes including Accommodation Supplement changes, Working for Families scheme, a Best Start payment for parents of young babies, and a Winter Warmer grant for beneficiaries and superannuitants.
The star attraction of this week’s legislation was the prospect of committing future governments towards reducing child poverty.
Not many in the new migrant communities would have imagined in their wildest dreams that child poverty was such an important issue in New Zealand – a relatively prosperous nation - as it eventually flushed out in the election campaign earlier this year.
The intense leader debates before the election had witnessed the stiff competition between each other for claims of denting in the numbers of child poverty in New Zealand.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who had on numerous occasions mentioned the reduction in child poverty, as her topmost priority, would take satisfaction from the fact that future government, would be required by law to declare and meet their child poverty reduction targets.
The government’s legislation is planning to lift 88,000 children out of poverty by 2021 – a moment to cherish for those who care about New Zealand.
Although, it’s another matter that National’s package would have lifted 55,000 children out of poverty, and if their pre-election assertions are to be believed, this would have been possible by April 01, 2018.
The claims and counter-claims will continue for some time, but for now it could be safely acknowledged this passing week in NZ parliament was intense with Labour Party marching ahead with several legislations promised in its 100 days program.