✨ Government Policy Announcements
21 DECEMBER 2011 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 199 5697
achieved through tight fiscal discipline, including new operating allowances of only $800 million in each of the next two Budgets.
As agreed with the ACT Party, legislation will be introduced to limit the growth in core Crown operating spending, with some adjustments, to a rate no faster than the combination of population growth and inflation.
Once in surplus, a KiwiSaver auto-enrolment exercise will be initiated.
My Government will maintain a new, lower cap on the number of staff in core government administration. It will be focused on achieving results, seeking new and better ways to deliver public services, and continuing to contain and reduce costs. Particular attention will be paid to the recommendations of the Better Public Services Advisory Group.
My Government will extend the mixed ownership model under which Air New Zealand currently operates to four State-owned enterprises – Meridian Energy, Mighty River Power, Genesis Power and Solid Energy – and will reduce its stake in Air New Zealand.
In each case, the Crown will retain at least 51 per cent of the company, and New Zealanders will be at the front of the queue for shares.
Proceeds from extending the mixed ownership model will go into a new fund – the Future Investment Fund – to pay for capital projects that help grow the economy and improve public services.
As agreed with the United Future Party, legislation will be introduced to limit any sale of public assets – that is, of State-owned enterprises and Air New Zealand – to no more than 49 per cent of the shares in the company, together with a limit on ownership by a single entity.
Honourable Members. My Government believes in a more active welfare system which supports people who can work, back into work, and does not trap them in a life of limited income and limited choices.
Legislation will be introduced to reform the current system of benefits. New benefit categories will be created, and a greater proportion of beneficiaries will be required to make themselves available for work. Changes will also be made to clamp down on beneficiaries whose recreational use of drugs affects their ability to work, and those who commit benefit fraud.
As agreed with the Maori Party, a separate appropriation and governance structure will be established for Whanau Ora.
The Government will introduce changes to support disengaged young people back into education or training. It will also have a more hands-on approach with 16- and 17-year-old beneficiaries, and with 18-year-old teen parents, including wrap-around support from third parties, and an expectation that they will be in some form of education or training.
As agreed with the Maori Party, a Ministerial committee on poverty will be established to improve the co-ordination of government activity in alleviating the effects of poverty.
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NZ Gazette 2011, No 199
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
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Speech from the Throne at the State Opening of Parliament
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🏛️ Governance & Central Administration21 December 2011
Speech from the Throne, State Opening of Parliament, Economic Policy, Fiscal Discipline, Welfare Reform, Mixed Ownership Model