Paul Goldsmith - Economic and Regional Development

15 May 2018

When will they start listening?

Yet another negative business confidence survey out today shows it is time for the Government to start listening to small and medium sized businesses, National’s Economic Development Spokesperson Paul Goldsmith says.

“The Staples Rodway survey out today tells a damning story of loss of confidence, with more than half of respondents saying that they expect New Zealand’s economy to slow in the next year, and a similar number expecting the budget this week to be negative for the economy,” Mr Goldsmith says.

“That’s a big warning to this Government. New Zealand should be growing faster over the next year as the world economy picks up, not more slowly.

“Labour’s spin is that the drop in business confidence was temporary following the change of Government. Six months later and businesses are just as pessimistic.

“You only have to look at Iain Lees Galloway’s interview on employment relations from Sunday to see why. He showed no concern that some of the Government’s policies will drive people out of business and cost jobs.

“His arrogant high-handed approach to businesses is symptomatic of a Government that either doesn’t understand or doesn’t want to understand that so many of its economic policies are anti-business and anti-growth.

“Loss of confidence is an early warning sign for lower investment, fewer jobs, and less tax money for Government services.

“New Zealand is a small country where nearly every business is a small business by world standards. Our companies need strong economic management to survive and prosper.

“The Government needs to understand that you can’t have a successful economy and a successful country without a strong small and medium sized business sector.

“It’s time it started listening.”

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