The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi says the Prime Minister’s story in last night’s leaders’ debate, about meeting a woman saving $7,000 a year on her mortgage, shows how out of touch he is with the hardship facing working people.
“Let’s be honest – meeting one woman who is doing better than she was three years ago is not evidence that the cost-of-living crisis is over,” says Sandra Grey, NZCTU President.
“One in seven children living in poverty is evidence there is a crisis. Wages falling in real terms is evidence there is a crisis. One in five older New Zealanders in hardship is evidence there is a crisis. Having 440,000 people out of work or unable to get the hours they need is evidence there is a crisis. And the heartbreaking stories from more than 600 Kiwis in the NZCTU’s Cost of Living report are evidence of a very real crisis.”
StatsNZ figures show wage and salary rates rose 2.0 percent in the year to June, while annual inflation was 4.1 percent, meaning working people are going backwards.
“The Prime Minister was either poorly informed about the real lives of Kiwis last night, or he chose to mislead us. Either way, this is not the leadership New Zealand needs. We need leaders who listen, who show empathy for what is happening in people’s lives, and who are willing to act on hardship, deprivation, poverty, and inequality.”
During the debate, Luxon was asked whether he ever changes his mind. He said he does when there is compelling evidence, but then said he has never changed his mind on policy and that his Government has stayed the course.
“That moment made me fume. It shows the Prime Minister hasn’t read a single Regulatory Impact Statement, Waitangi Tribunal report, or union or NGO report from the last three years. If he had read the evidence of the harm caused by his Government’s economic and political decisions, he would have changed his mind,” says Grey.
“Or perhaps he has read the evidence and is simply more interested in protecting the wealthy few than in addressing the hardship facing so many workers. Either way, he is not fit to lead our country.”
“To workers: you have the power to vote out Christopher Luxon, who showed his real self last night – an uncaring, unwavering and unreflective leader. We can’t risk six years of Luxon.”
