https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350183890/watch-state-nation-fragile-christopher-luxon-says
Chris Luxon identified quite a few issues from the perspective of the
new government, but one in particular deserves more attention:
"Conditions were "rough" due to the "economic mess" left behind by the
Labour government, and New Zealanders were "voting with their feet",
with a record net 44,500 New Zealanders leaving the country last year,
he said."
We have been partially successful in attracting some doctors and
teachers (both identified as critical by National in the past), but
clearly not enough. The reality is that Australia pays more than we
do, and despite their having higher income tax rates than us, and the
need for Australians to have medical insurance, still we are losing
doctors and nurses and teachers.
The drop in the top tax rate may make us a little bit more attractive
to the lower paid teachers and nurses, but clearly pay scales need to
be moved upwards. We have known that we need to train more of our own
people for twenty years, and National did indicate they would consider
a new medical school for Doctors in Hamilton, but we also need more of
our own teachers and nurses, and in any event increasing training does
not produce qualified people for some years. The previous government
made some changes to pay rates, but clearly that was not enough.
In the short term, there is a need for pay rises for critical
professions - and the sooner the better.
The government have identified a significant problem; it is however up
to them to also find a solution . . .
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