John and Fran Join Socialiste Internationale

Well, you'd think they had, if you read their pieces in this morning's Herald.

Unlike some commenters, I have always considered John Armstrong and Fran O'Sullivan to be pretty even handed in their dishing out of brickbats and bouquets to parties of the left and parties of the right. However, this morning they appear to have their rudders locked on hard a'port as the good ship Granny lurches further to the left.

Amazingly, Mr Armstrong makes a fuss because Bill English had the temerity to ask for advice on making a marginal reduction in the ridiculous and unfordable welfare scheme that is Working For Families.

But get this folks - he DIDN'T MAKE ANY CHANGES although to read Armstrong's piece you'd think he had cut the throats of a dozen indigent children and laughed as the blood flowed in front of television cameras.

"Low-income and older New Zealanders need security when times are uncertain. That's why this Budget maintains New Zealand superannuation, benefits, student support, and Working for Families."

However, previously confidential reports released by the Treasury yesterday reveal Mr English asked officials for advice on the removal of the indexing of family tax credits and rates of paid parental leave.

The officials reported back that around $550 million would be saved if income thresholds for the family tax credit and childcare assistance were similarly frozen at current levels.

Had the freeze gone ahead, a working couple with two children under 12 would have missed out on an extra $15.77 once indexation was triggered by quarterly increases in the consumer price index reaching 5 per cent. Someone on paid parental leave would have forgone nearly $26 extra a week."

This is bullshit reporting at its very worst. Quite disgraceful.

In my view John Armstrong needs to pull his socks up and actually do some proper reporting. He could start by asking Phil Goff all the questions which have not yet been asked about his involvement in the entrapment of the the Don Giovanniesque bumptious fool Richard Worth.

Normally reliable Fran O'Sullivan chimes in with a ranting bleat about, of all things, John Key's alleged lack of support for affirmative action in the appointment of women to senior positions of management in SOEs.



For goodness sake, Fran. Next thing you'll be wanting lesbians appointed to marriage guidance centres.