There is no Budget allocation. The Alliance has been reduced to making false promises to get in the news. In an appropriate footnote, Jim Anderton last week used the Post Cabinet press conference to ask the media for ideas on how to improve his party's position in the polls. Labour's charm offensive with business and the promise of conditions which will lead to economic transformation are empty words. The much awaited Resource Management Amendment Bill, introduced by National to cut compliance costs and remove bottlenecks while maintaining high environmental standards, has been sent back to square one.
Double standards do little for all the other small businesses that miss out.
You cannot promise economic transformation and then refuse to deliver the policy framework required. Many businesses are rapidly realising Labour will not match its words with genuine political action. The arguments Helen Clark has used to justify the gutting of this key defence capability are built on quicksand. This month, we are commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Crete. It was a World War II campaign to rival the horrors of Gallipoli.