Govt yet to consult on Guardians

National finance spokesman David Carter says that the Government has yet to consult it over the appointment of Guardians to the New Zealand Superannuation Fund.

"The Government's inability to appoint the fund's guardians should ring alarm-bells with all New Zealanders," he said.

Although the process has taken longer than expected, Finance Minister Michael Cullen says that a proposed list went to the cabinet appointments and honours committee last week and it will go to the full cabinet on Monday June 10.

The nominating committee, chaired by Investment Savings and Insurance Association chief executive Vance Arkinstall, received more than 100 expressions of interest.

Carter also suggested the Government was having difficulty finding Guardians that would be acceptable to its coalition partner.

Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton has supported the fund and is unlikely to be causing waves over the appointment process.

Meanwhile, the ‘new model’ Alliance hasn't made any decisions on superannuation.

It is not saying whether it will continue to support the current arrangement for the government's superannuation fund.

While the party voted for the NZ Super Fund when the legislation went through Parliament last year it is now reconsidering all its policy options.

The party’s policy committee will consider the issue, along with its other policy positions, over the next two weeks, a spokeswoman for new leader Laila Harre says.

The party is keen to carve out a separate political ‘brand’ from the government on one side and the Greens on the other.

Harre has yet to make any comments on superannuation policy issues, with the exception of entitlement levels.

The Alliance is claiming much of the credit for Government's decision to increase pension levels by $20 a week (although it was one of Labour's credit card pledges).

Prior to the 1999 election the Alliance position was that the level of benefits set before National’s 1998 cuts was not only desirable but sustainable and that there was no need to pre-fund the scheme.

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