Embarrassed Brownlee tries to duck responsibility

Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee went to extraordinary lengths in Parliament today to avoid answering a question about the Government’s embarrassing lack of measurable milestones for achieving pay parity with Australia by 2025, Labour Economic Development spokesperson David Parker says.

“If Kiwis wanted even more evidence that this Government’s hollow 2025 goal is just so much flim-flam and puffery, then Mr Brownlee’s vain attempt to wriggle out of responsibility for milestones proved the case once and for all,” David Parker said.

“If any Minister is to be held accountable for reaching economic development milestones along the way to achieving National’s non-plan, then surely that minister is the Economic Development Minister.

“But no, Mr Brownlee tried to convince the Speaker it was some other minister’s responsibility to take responsibility for economic development,” David Parker said.

“When I took him at his word, and tried to transfer the question to the Prime Minister because he has responsibility for everything, including hapless ministers, National quickly realised the hole Mr Brownlee was dropping them in, and refused me leave to ask Mr Key the same question.

“Mr Key is even more embarrassed than Mr Brownlee by the lack of milestones, and by the fact that it is becoming clearer every day just how hollow National’s most important pre-election pledge has become.”

ENDS

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