Pay equity spat calls for independent policy costings

Labour leader Chris Hipkins is again disputing Treasury’s estimate that reversing the Government’s pay equity changes would cost $6,400 per household. The Taxpayers’ Union says if Labour rejects the numbers, it should back independent verification.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:

"If Chris Hipkins thinks Treasury has got it wrong, he either needs to prove it or back an independent policy-costing body to test the numbers."

“Treasury says reversing the Government’s changes would cost $6,400 per household. If Labour disputes that figure, taxpayers deserve to know the real cost, not just another round of ‘he said, she said’.”

“An independent fiscal watchdog isn’t a radical idea. Even Labour’s finance spokesperson, Barbara Edmonds, has previously drafted a Members’ Bill calling for an Independent Fiscal Institute.”

“Countries like Britain use their Office for Budget Responsibility to keep politicians honest. It’s time New Zealand put an adult in the room to cut through the election-year spin and tell it like it is.”