NZ Economic Planning: So Does John Key Have A Plan?
October 22nd, 2009
So does John Key have A Plan? This is the question which business leaders have been asking. Or is the Govt just coasting, riding a wave of popularity all the taller because voters became so disillusioned with the previous regime? Ministers insist the Govt is working to a carefully designed strategy: first, the priority is to pull the economy through the recession with the least number of job losses, (which the Govt can tick off virtually as mission accomplished). The next step is to nurture the green shoots, rather than crush them. And then the objective will be to bring together measures which will turbo-charge economic growth.
This week Cabinet looked at proposals to inject fresh momentum into NZ’s scientific research programmes. Earlier, at the Premier House retreat, the parameters for next year’s budget, expected to be the most significant of the current Parliamentary term, were laid down. The goal of lifting NZ’s dismal productivity performance is being worked on at two different levels. The Don Brash-led 2025 productivity taskforce is due to present its first report based on its preliminary findings next month.
At another level, a Productivity Commission is to be established within Treasury. It will be able to draw on work already done in Aust by the Productivity Commission there, and is expected to study particular sectors. Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee is leading work on how NZ Inc’s performance can be sharpened, while the report called for by Foreign Minister Murray McCully on how NZ’s resources are deployed abroad is due next month.
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Duncan Cotterill