Earlier this week it was reported that Craig Renney (CTU)
was barred from attending Treasury lock-ups (Craig
Renney and CTU want apology from Nicola Willis over Treasury
ban – NZ Herald
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/craig-renney-and-ctu-want-apology-from-nicola-willis-over-treasury-ban/)
Treasury
was reported to have decided to tighten access by removing
advocacy organisations like the CTU and the Taxpayer’s
Union.
It is a backward step for democracy that
socially concerned organisations are now being banned from
receipt of information firsthand in Treasury lock-up
briefings.
This rings alarm bells and
serves as a reminder that the Social Sector Budget lock-up
was cancelled for Budget 2024. Another example of shrinking
the access of advocacy organisations to mingle with
politicians and hear from politicians directly prior to the
public announcement of the Budget. An opportunity to attend
the Social Sector Budget lock-up served to directly provide
context on the direction and purpose of the Budget and
allowed organisations to ask questions which added valuable
understanding to all those present of the key concerns and
initiatives of such
organisations.
Quoting from the Treasury
Budget 2024 Lock-up
– – Registrations of interest to attend the Budget 2024
restricted briefing for media and analysts ‘Attendance
is restricted…priority for seats at the lock-up briefing
will be given to national and international media
organisations, and economic and financial analysts attached
to either financial institutions or national organisations
that provide relevant specialist advisory
services’
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The government needs to ensure that the
word ‘relevant specialist advisory services’ extends to
advocacy groups including unions, not-for-profit
organisations, faith institutions and those representing
people with disabilities, health professionals, education
and housing advocates to name a few. Attendance being
‘restricted’ must not be used to silence voices that may
challenge the current government direction.
Duncan
looks forward to a widening of criteria to include
attendance by advocacy organisations at Treasury lock-ups.
Their views are relevant and the government needs to
encompass and engage with such organisations.
A first
step of good faith would be the reinstatement of a Social
Sector Budget lockup for Budget 2025, inviting a
cross-section of organisations representing the diversity of
our population to hear key Budget messages firsthand.
Gail Duncan, chairperson of St Peter’s on
Willis Social Justice Group
St Peter’s on Willis Social
Justice Group, St Peter’s Church, The Anglican Parish of
Te Aro,
Wellington.
