Grant Robertson Im out of here.

[whatsup]

I agree, these people who say the economy is 'stuffed' Imo have no sense of perspective.

Despite the Global Pandemic & 2 catastrophic cyclones, 2 of the only 3 'National States of Emergency' this country has ever had, economists note we have one of the lowest Govt Debts in the world amongst Developed nations.

Our Debt to GDP Ratio though peaking, is no higher (just) than in 2012 following the GFC.

Real Economists from global Credit Agencies give NZ very solid credit ratings due to the way the economy has been managed through the pandemic years.

There was huge support through the pandemic. Businesses were kept afloat & employees in jobs through the pandemic & the domestic economy actually took off.
It's govt's job to smooth out sharp impacts of shocks to the economy, using surpluses & deficits.

Unemployment is at historically low levels.

Inflation trending down.

A number of FTA's were negotiated &/or signed off during the Labour govt. (5 in total from memory. )

Not denying there's huge problems & challenges ahead but let's give some credit where credits due.
Just like after the GFC, the economy is very slowly recovering in a fragile global environment.
It's what this govt does next which is important.


I noted an economist saying recently Nicola Willis intends changing our Nett Debt to GDP ratio (similar to other nations) back to the old Gross Debt to GDP ratio for purely political reasons as will help her dampen spending expectations.

Just about every economist prior to the election said National's numbers don't add up, we could all see it then, we're starting to see the impact now & now some posters here are slamming Grant Robertson !

B S , What you say this is simply not true, if you add to the unemployment ranks, the people who are on a Job seeker benefit , sickness benefit you would get closer to 8-10% true unemployment, a family member has been on a jobseeker benefit for two years now , does not have to apply for jobs and has been given another year to find a interview let alone a job, discusting but that the Labour dogma, dont hurt the unemployeds feelings or they might have a break down !!

[mistaTea]

B S , What you say this is simply not true, if you add to the unemployment ranks, the people who are on a Job seeker benefit , sickness benefit you would get closer to 8-10% true unemployment, a family member has been on a jobseeker benefit for two years now , does not have to apply for jobs and has been given another year to find a interview let alone a job, discusting but that the Labour dogma, dont hurt the unemployeds feelings or they might have a break down !!

I too have a family member who has been on JobSeeker support for years now.

Absolutely no conditions on the benefit from what I can tell. He has just started applying for some jobs now because he can see what is about to hit him with the changes the new govt are bringing in.

But before that he literally sat on his arse all day, smoking pot, reading books and playing PlayStation with zero pressure from WINZ to get off his arse and prove that he is trying his best to get a job.

As Luxon says, if you are on the Unemployment or JobSeeker benefit... your job is to get a job.

I know all of the Defenders of the last govt have no shortage of excuses and examples of people who are hard done by... but the reality of human nature is if you hand out benefits with no restrictions/requirements... there is a cohort of the population who will prefer to sit at home doing nothing. Even though it hurts them in the long run.