PSA MEDIA RELEASE
May 25, 2009
For Immediate Use

PSA looks for vision in Budget 09

The Public Service Association recognises that these are tough times and hopes Thursday’s Budget will provide a vision of how we revive and retool our recession-hit economy.

“Governments overseas are meeting the challenge of the global recession by investing in bold recovery programmes to create jobs,” says PSA national secretary Brenda Pilott.

“They’re also seeing the recession as an opportunity to build ‘green economies’ that are more sustainable and will be stronger in the future when the recovery comes.”

“This is the sort of vision and leadership we would like to see from our government in Thursday’s Budget.”

“It’s the type of response to the recession we’re seeing from our two biggest trading partners, Australia and the United States,” says Brenda Pilott.

Two weeks ago the Australian government delivered a Budget that invests $28.5 billion in a
‘nation- building’ infrastructure programme. This includes a clean energy initiative to build a low pollution economy. It aims to prevent 210,000 Australians from losing their jobs.

Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan: “This Budget is forged in the fire of the most challenging global economic conditions since the Great Depression. It is a budget that supports jobs today by investing in the infrastructure we need for tomorrow.”

In the United State President Barack Obama has implemented a recovery plan to save or create 3.5 million jobs by investing in sustainable economic growth. This includes investing $101 billion in clean energy programmes such as ‘greening’ federal buildings to make them energy efficient.

“Are we going to see the same sort of vision and leadership from Bill English and the government here on Thursday?” says Brenda Pilott.

“Are we going to see the same investment in New Zealand’s infrastructure?”

“Are we going to see investment in both our physical infrastructure and in the people who plan, build and run that infrastructure?”

“And are we going to see John Key deliver on his pre-election promise to maintain strong public services?” asks Brenda Pilott.

In September last year Mr Key told the PSA Congress: “Public services touch all our lives in very real ways. National is committed to the delivery of high-quality services to the public, in a timely, responsive, and effective way.”

“The demand for our public services is increasing as the recession bites and unemployment rises,” says Brenda Pilott.

“More and more people are turning to our public services to support themselves and their families to get through these tough times.”

“Businesses and employers are also needing more support from our public services as demand for their products and services falls, putting the squeeze on their cash flows.”

“These are tough times and we hope the Budget will reflect the need to invest in our public services to help the country get through the worst global recession in more than 70 years,” says Brenda Pilott.

ENDS

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