6 August 2004

Brash Visit Bowls Them Over
Dr Brash spoke to large public meetings in Riverton and Drummond, invited constituents in Winton and a large parents group at Gore High School in his half day visit to the electorate last week. There was time to visit Sir Brian Talboys on the way. Over 100 people filled the Drummond Bowling Club, the biggest meeting there since my meeting in the last week of the 1990 election campaign – and it had the same positive feel. The bad news is there is no election for 12 months.

Don spoke about economic growth, crime, welfare, The Treaty and education. These themes will be consistent throughout the next 12 months.

SDC Go Native On Indigenous Scrub
Friendly, practical Southland District Council looks to be infected by the political correctness taking over our country. They’re trying to pressurise a Riverton farmer Euan Shearing who cleared some bush in view of the main road. A plan agreed between the farmer and Environment Southland was trashed by SDC staff. A meeting next week will decide whether they throw the book at him in a court case that could cost up to $200,000. If the farmer loses, he will have to pay the whole lot. Farmers should be warned that they can’t do anything with indigenous vegetation of any sort without SDC agreement. Anyone buying a farm with a view to clearing native scrub should check with the council first. We are headed down a road similar to British farming where local authorities require farmers to get a consent for cultivation.

Big Government Beast Alive and Well
In 1999 the Government collected $42 billion, mostly tax. By 2005 Government income will be up by $19.5 billion to $61.5 billion. In 1999 Government spending was $40.2 billion and by 2005 it will be up $16.8 billion to $57 billion.

Times of strong growth are the best opportunity to shrink Government’s share of the economic cake, but it hasn’t happened as the tax take and Government spending have grown relentlessly. In the run up to the next election, National needs to guard against making promises to spend more on everything.

Labour Logic – Reward the Burglar
Earlier this year I uncovered an $80m blowout in spending on community education. A handful of Polytechs abused the system. Instead of sorting out the offenders, Steve Maharey has let them keep increased funding and he’s cutting every Polytech to pay for it. This hits SIT and Telford who have behaved professionally despite the temptation. It’s like catching the burglar and letting him keep the stolen property. Under Labour, people who waste public money don’t face any consequences, and productive people get discouraged. I am working with SIT to change the policy that cuts millions from their budget.