MEDIA RELEASE

Norman Plays the Man Not the Ball

9 SEPTEMBER 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Taxpayers’ Union is reacting angrily to the inference by Green Party Co-leader Russell Norman on Twitter that the independent expert who uncovered serious flaws in the Green Party’s wage policy costings, is right-wing or otherwise bias.

Jordan Williams, Executive Director of the Taxpayers’ Union says:

"Dr Norman needs to do a Judith Collins and take a break from Twitter. Instead of engaging on the content of the independent report, Dr Norman has lashed out and is playing the man not the ball."

“The implication that Dr Dunn is some sort of Taxpayers’ Union stooge is wrong. In fact, Dr Dunn used to lead the team of economists at IRD that costed social policy under both National and Labour governments. He’s a former member of the Fabian Society, is a former Principal Economist at the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, and has managed staff seconded into Micheal Cullen and David Cunliffe’s ministerial offices.”

“Labeling Dr Dunn ‘right-wing’ suggests more about Dr Norman’s political outlook than the validity of the criticisms of the Greens' numbers."

"Dr Norman should play the ball not the man, and admit that his Party’s costings has been shown up as flawed.”

More information about Dr Michael Dunn and his report on the Green Party’s wages policy,is available at taxpayers.org.nz.

ENDS

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