President's Column - An eye on Politics
“The financial situation means things will change for us all. Don’t naively think your workplace or station or district will somehow slip under the radar; no one else’s will.”
The political scene in New Zealand is fascinating at present.
Many police I speak to take a passing interest, particularly when there’s a bit of volatility, in-fighting, and scandal – but the general feeling I encounter, especially as I get further from Wellington, is one of general indifference ‘unless it affects me’.
With the good economic times of the last decade before the global meltdown, combined with the fact there was very little difference between the parties as they fought for the middle ground where most of voters are, that was a fairly understandable place to be.
Those days are over. The new economic environment in New Zealand and worldwide has pushed the parties apart philosophically, especially over how to return us to prosperity.
It’s been accentuated in New Zealand in particular, with the Harawira-inspired noise on the left, and Brash/Rodney Hide on the right pulling the main parties in their respective directions, in order to prevent the impractical but appealing fringe policies stealing their votes away.
So what’s that got to do with us as police?
Well potentially a lot actually. The battle ground will be over Government spending, and surprise, surprise, the Government funds Police to the tune of about $1.5 billion.
The Government’s Budget, delivered late last month, essentially confirmed we’ll get the same as last year – which means a reduction in ‘real terms’ due to the effect of inflation.
Demand for our services will remain the same, which means every dollar will need to be stretched that bit further.
We are always very careful at the Association to support policies, and not political parties.
So we will be watching this election to see which policies we believe will best ensure all the gains we have made in policing, generally, in recent years are not going to be dismantled, and to make sure the full implications of any cuts are understood.
The financial situation means things will change for us all.
Don’t naively think your workplace or station or district will somehow slip under the radar; no one else’s will.
The Association will be scrutinizing the political scene closely on your behalf, and we will use future issues of Police News to outline all the parties’ policies.
In the meantime, keep an eye on the local and national political scene, so you learn to work out the impacts of this interesting intrigue and scrapping on our world.
