If there was one constant criticism of the National Party in last year’s election, it was that the party would begin selling off state-owned assets, which has been among its core party policies for around two decades. The party leader, and now Prime Minister, John Key, pledged there would be no sales of state-owned assets during a first term of a National-led government.
They didn’t say anything about not privatising core government services, though.
National MP Judith Collins, who is also corrections minister, has announced plans to allow private companies to run New Zealand prisons (though, so far, not to own the prisons). National claims, consistent with party policy, that private companies can do a better job for less money.
Labour, which outlawed private-run prisons when in government, disagrees: "Labour believes that it is the role of the public sector to deprive people of their liberty and not the role of the private sector. Prisons are a core public service along with defence and police."
Funny they should mention defence: National MP and defence minister Wayne Mapp has announced that the Territorial Army (similar to the Army Reserve in the US) will be sent on more overseas missions. The move would save money by allowing a smaller regular army, relying instead on part-time soldiers who could be called up when needed. There has been no mention of privatising any defence functions, so this looks to be a cost-cutting move only.
The difference between the two plans is that using the Territorials means reallocating Government resources, while the prison plan means abandoning them. I wonder if National is aware of some of the high-profile, spectacular failures among private prisons in the US. At any rate, is it ever a good idea to allow private companies to lock up citizens for a profit?
I’ve supported some moves by the National-led Government, opposed others and strongly opposed a few. However, I think it’s inexcusable that they’ve continued to use urgency to ram through their agenda without ordinary citizens having the chance to participate in the process. Some of their moves have profound implications that citizens ought to have more of a say on, but National is making sure they don’t, and that’s just plain wrong. I hope citizens are allowed to have input on this plan, unlike the other agenda items National has implemented so far.
2 comments:
Privatization has worked soooo poorly here in the U.S. It's been virtually a scandal. I can't believe the National Party wouldn't that a good look look at the track record of the idea before they decide to adopt it. But, maybe its not about 'doing the right thing' for society. Maybe, at the end of the day, it's just about profits. It'll be sad for NZ if government gets as deeply captured by the profit seeking corporate types as the U.S. government did under Bush.
My thoughts exactly!
Post a Comment