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Joyce and Robertson both channel Jerry Maguire, calling on each other to 'show me the money' after policy announcements

Joyce and Robertson both channel Jerry Maguire, calling on each other to 'show me the money' after policy announcements

We must be in an election campaign. Despite the Government's books being in relatively good shape compared to our OECD peers, the recession-era scare mongering over how political parties will account for every cent of campaign promises continues to dominate questions, rebuttals and political posturing as we near 23 September.

The phrase "show me the money" may well have been made famous by Tom Cruise's Jerry Maguire. But in New Zealand it took on a life of its own, forever cementing itself in our election campaigns, after John Key in 2011 used the phrase to ridicule Phil Goff over Labour's policy platform at a Christchurch leaders' debate.

No doubt it was going to be unleashed this time around, even with the books in surplus and the cash flowing in. Steven Joyce was first out of the blocks on Wednesday, calling on Labour to reveal where exactly in its detailed (for an Opposition Party) fiscal forecasts was its promise to increase paid parental leave from 18 to 26 weeks - a move that had previously been reported as (apparently National saying) that it would cost about an extra $120 million or so a year. To put that into context, that's compared to Core Crown Expenses last year of $74 billion.

(Update: I've just been told by Labour that the cost for its paid parental leave is already included in its 'families package' spending commitments in its fiscal plan (see pg 14). The party is estimating the boost to 26 weeks will cost an extra $90 million a year. An initial move to 22 weeks would cost an extra $45 million.)

Not to be outdone, Grant Robertson fired back at National's $10.5 billion roading announcement - a rather larger spending promise in comparison. You can read his full statement below, along with Joyce's.

Labour is also said to be frustrated that the National-led government is continuing to announce new spending promises by Ministers after Parliament was dissolved and after the pre-election forecasts were released. Simon Bridges was the latest to take a Prefu unallocated cash pressie out from under the post-election spending tree by today announcing an extra few hundred million for an extension of National's broadband package. The announcement appears to reduce the spending promise capacity of the next government.

Here are Joyce and Robertson's statements Wednesday having a go at each other's spending promises:

Steven Joyce:

It’s very surprising that Labour’s fiscal plan came out yesterday with absolutely no mention of their proposal to lift the amount of paid parental leave, National Party Campaign Chair Steven Joyce says.

“Our team has been through the numbers at length, and despite a desire to increase government spending by a massive $31 billion over the next four years, there is no mention of any money earmarked for more paid parental leave,” Mr Joyce says.

“Given how enthusiastic Labour has been about it, and how negative they were about National’s announcement yesterday – surely there must be some money put aside?

“Labour said on social media that they had hidden it in their families package, but there is no money identified in the cost calculations for that package.

“The only mention of paid parental leave was when a bullet point referring to it was added to their webpage online yesterday afternoon once it was raised with them.

“It can’t be in the new budget allowance because there is virtually nothing set aside for the next three years as there is.

“Maybe Grant Robertson and BERL have it stashed away somewhere and they might be able to point it out. Or perhaps they could get a working group together to find it. In the meantime it seems it’s the case of the missing paid parental leave.”

Grant Robertson:

The National Party needs to front up to New Zealanders and show them where the money is coming from for the billions of dollars of election promises that they are making, says Grant Robertson Labour Finance Spokesperson.

"Labour has released its full Fiscal Plan outlining our commitments and how they will be paid for. It has been independently assessed by the economic research agency BERL. This transparency is important to show Kiwis we can follow through on what we promise.

"Now it is time for National to front up and do the same. In the last three weeks, National has made billions of dollars of promises. These are not part of the Government accounts. So far, all National has done is make vague statements about where the funding will come from.

"For example, their $10.5 billion roading package will apparently have an initial contribution from the capital budget. How much? And isn't this the same fund that is meant to be making up for the billions of dollars missing from the Auckland Transport Alignment Plan, a new medical school and a stadium for Christchurch?

"Straight after the Budget in May, Steven Joyce said ‘over the four year period from this budget through to 2021, we actually have no spare cash.’

Yet here he is in the election campaign, throwing money around for all sorts of programmes including a latter day conversion to Paid Parental Leave, and unbudgeted money for education and health programmes.

"National owes New Zealanders a comprehensive statement of their fiscal plan. It’s time for Steven Joyce to answer the question, can you show me the money?" Grant Robertson said.

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33 Comments

It doesn't matter what side of the fence you sit ,all this political upmanship will come back an bite us all.
Well costed policy's gone out the door !!

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Indeed ... and bite us ,it will big time -- or someone will end up with a lot of egg on the face a big boot out next election if they fail to deliver or tax too much ..lose -lose situation

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The solution is really simple ........... DONT VOTE LABOUR .

National has allowed themselves a lot of wriggle room and their policies are not nearly as reckless as Labour's

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Let's Do This: #Don'tVoteLabour

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Cool, I like this hashtag , #Don'tVoteLabour

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Ode to Taxinda (sung to Katy Perry’s Alien)

You're from a whole other world
A different dimension
You open my eyes
And I'm ready to go, lead me into the polling station
Tax me, t-t-tax me
Infect me with your spin and fill me with your visage.
Tax me, t-t-tax me
Wanna be a victim, ready for the dole line….

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:) perfect

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Alternatively, young Kiwis can vote National and #RentTillYouDie

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PredictIt has National at 82 cents this morning and Labour at 21 cents.

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Boatie, you're back on National, eh?

National is a known quantity - inaction. Inaction on the housing crisis, inaction on health (until embarrassed), etc. etc. All cans to be kicked down the road for as long as possible.

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For 9 years National has steadfastly refused to spend the money needed to fund essential structure to meet the massive immigration boom they have generated. They decided instead to build up a nest egg to give back as tax cuts. So after 9 years we have no new hospitals, a massive housing crisis, productivity dropping like a rock as people spend half their day in traffic, no public transport worth a damn and the lowest home ownership rate in 66 years. The inconvenient truth is we cannot have our cake and halfpenny as well. If we want a fair and livable city we need to pay tax. I hate it but it's true. English only talks tax and money. Ardern talks social issues and helping people have better lives. People are starting to rediscover their social conscience and many are willing to pay a bit more tax to have a society they can be proud of.

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Money go round? Actually a whole circle of neighing horses on a merry go round. We have got some serious issues in this country with the calibre of our MP's & the clear lack of discipline, dignity and integrity. Couple that with their a overriding disrespect for the electorate, who can just be bought off, it would seem, as they think fit, with nothing more than bald & blatant electioneering bait.At least Winston is onto it, cull 30 of them. Worth a vote just for that!

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All political parties are similar but one thing is for sure that this election vote anyone but............................

Need Change.

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...... anyone but Taxinda.

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or Greens, or TOP, or Winnie.

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KP - I suppose you are ok with the billshitter and his lies then??

Kiwis so dumh lah!

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You mean Gareth , right ?

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You are a dog with a bone.

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Not surprised that Labour were able to point to where the paid parental leave policy is budgeted within their fiscal plan. Can't wait for the first debate, as I suspect Bill will try this same scaremongering-type mantra on and Jacinda will be prepared for it. Should be interesting.

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If anyone is looking for the source of some cash for election promises I would suggest they look at the $500 millon the nats have put towards irrigation scheme for their farmer mates.
The immediate capital gain accrued by farmers involved in this scheme seems to be a nudge nudge, wink wink fill your boots type situation.

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Well Smalltown, very difficult to think up anything that would better depict this government. Same boat, same purpose, same scruples, same gross mismanagement, for those that remember, as Muldoon and his ruinous SMP's.

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On the other side of the ledger seems to have been a concerted effort to reduce expenditure/outgo, what you will, by denying EQ claimants in Canterbury their legal rights of reinstatement. That is according to a post by Southern No Response that a review by EQC of repairs undertaken under their management will result in 11500, repeat 11500, properties are of highly suspect and deficient repair, and likely to go over cap. However release of this result is to be delayed until just after the election, 25 September. My oh my they sure know how to arrange things. Lying eyes. What do you do to get a surplus? Shaft the little people of course.

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Things that won't come out till after the election:

1. Bill and Todd's Excrement Adventure (AKA the police investigation of Todd Barclay, any charges etc.)
2. Any scandal involving Paula Bennett, and investigation of the same
3. Any clarity around who leaked Winston's pension info and why it was leaked to National
4. The report on Southern No Response

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That's corruption of the first order and that's the way National do it - a direct transfer of capital wealth from the taxpayer to the irrigators

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National can make all the election promises they like, It's not like they"re actually going to do anything.
They're as effective and proactive as a chocolate tea pot.

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CJ099 normally agree with you but they have been pretty effctive.

I think they are pretty effective at increasing homelessness, increasing immigration, increasing house prices, increasing the wage gap between haves and have nots, increasing education rorts, increasing ques in hospitals, increasing traffic problems, increasing ques for returning kiwis at airport, increasing low wage economy, increasing money laundering. Maybe we can tag a few more on.

9 Years to create generational problems and still blame labour for them. What do they need 20 years before its actually Nationals fault.

Labour may be hopeless, Winston maybe a guy whos wears a hanky in his suits but at least they havent been in government for the last 9 years and willfully changed the fabric of NZ to create generational problems.

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What about increaing sleeping pods in Central Auckland too? Do you have to blame National for EVERYTHING??
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2017/08/auckland-sleeping-pods-may-…

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Well considering all the points that Swapcrate just gave, especially the ones that are most relevant to your query (The out of control property market, money laundering and allowing wages to become decoupled from affordable housing). Then YES we can blame National.

You know it wouldn't surprise me that if we left them to it, they be highly likely to get rid of by bylaw that restricted renting out human habitable spaces in an attempt to quick fix the housing crisis, since they don't seem to be keen on actually building homes.

Then we would end up like this: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/gallery/2017/jun/07/boxed-life-insid…

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Very much looking forward to a tram through mt Albert and mt Roskill. Hopefully they can get it done before any value uplift tax is introduced - Surely Ardern and woodsy will not allow

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Oh for goodness sake , who ever trusted those biased people who run BERL especially Dr Nana , who always has a left-wing agenda , and has been a vocal critic of everyone other than Labour

And he is a regular contributor to THE FABIAN SOCIETY

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Haha,
"Fabian Society derives its name from the Roman general Quintus Fabius, known as Cunctator from his strategy of delaying his attacks on the invading Carthaginians until the right moment."

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Just had to google that. Interesting. Amongst other things, father of guerrilla warfare. Could say this election, is more like gorilla warfare, but that would be an insult to all apes. Still some of the tactics might fit NZF, Winston does tend to use hit & run, sometimes very effectively, as at present.

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National has been good for the last 9 years but like any bread, it's a bit stale and mouldy. You can still consume it but it won't taste any good will give you a good runny later on...

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