'Grant Robertson has a major problem – he's like the guy going away on holiday trying to fit three suitcases worth of stuff into one'

October 25, 2017
A composite image of Steven Joyce, left, with Grant Robertson

National Party finance spokesperson Steven Joyce is still standing behind his "maths" when it comes to Labour's handling of the New Zealand economy.

Speaking to Radio New Zealand this morning, Mr Joyce says the Labour Party's new $1 billion Regional Development Plan, announced by Prime Minister-elect Jacinda Ardern yesterday, simply doesn't add up.

"She's going to have to be checked on that because the amount of money they have allocated over the next three years is $4 billion according to their own numbers," Mr Joyce told Radio NZ's morning report today.

That's despite Ms Ardern confirming that the fund been fully costed. However Mr Joyce disputed that, saying his calculations told him otherwise.

"One of the things we’ll all have to test is where this money is coming from.

"Grant Robertson has a major problem – he's like the guy going away on holiday who's trying to fit three suitcases worth of stuff into one suitcase."

Mr Joyce was also standing behind his highly disputed "fiscal hole" argument, saying today that anyone "with a calculator" can conclude that the government doesn't have enough money to spend.

"I won't to be proven wrong but, sadly I have a sneaking suspicion I'll be proven right over time."

Minimum wage will hurt small businesses

Mr Joyce is also worried about the impact a higher minimum wage will have on small businesses, placing a burden on them which will be felt by their employees.

"Why doesn't she stay with the lowest band income tax cuts between $14,000 and $22,000?" Mr Joyce asked.

"If you care about low income workers that would immediately give them $11 a week."

Ms Ardern said today she's considering a tax cut for small businesses to off-set minimum wage effects.

As for his job as finance spokesperson for the opposition, Mr Joyce says he won't be going anyway any time soon, promising that he’ll keep the government accountable for their financial decisions in the coming term.

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