Oh dear, Michael Cullen really believes he knows best

United New Zealand leader, Hon Peter Dunne, says Labour’s decision to axe the Superannuation 2000 Task Force shows a dark side to the new Government’s agenda.

Mr Dunne says while the new Government is entitled to implement its policies, New Zealanders will quickly rue the loss of an opportunity to achieve genuine multiparty consensus on the superannuation issue.

“In this instance, the new Government seems more concerned about stamping its political will on an issue than making sound policy.”

“Making superannuation a political football once more is the last thing the country needs,” he says.

Mr Dunne says that of even greater concern is the way Labour has approached this issue.

“Dr Cullen seems obsessed with the re-introduction of his short-lived 1990 GRI policy at any cost, in what appears to be more an act of self-vindication than sound policy.”

“Many have worried that Labour in government would revert to a classic paternalistic ‘we know best’ approach, and this decision confirms those fears.”

“The way Dr Cullen has handled this issue shows he is well on track to become New Zealand’s most dogmatic, know-all Finance Minister since Sir Robert Muldoon,” Mr Dunne says.