财政部长比尔英格里希（Bill English）18日在国会证实：国家党在银行利率焦点问题上悄然变了论调，是因为有三至四家大银行代表的游说起了作用。
工党财经事务发言人大卫•康利夫(Hon David Cunliffe)表示，“上一周财政部长和总理约翰基还慷慨激昂地要求银行应当降低国人的房屋和商业贷款利率，本周他们却来了个大变身，成了乖乖小绵羊，说什么“当务之急”是“稳定性”和“银行业的收益“。
当英格里希在国会里被诘问-- 为什么政府对银行业的严声厉辞，最终结果不是辅之以重拳出击，反尔是政府立场软化、声音越来越细小？这位财长证实说各大银行上周派出“三到四名”代表参与了讨论。
从国会大厦传到北方俱乐部的信息现在很清楚---别以为我们要动真格儿的，那不过是虚张声势（wet bus ticket）罢了。
大卫•康利夫说，“国家党政府不可能做到两全。如果对减息一事无所谓，他们就不应当假装得很积极上心。要是他们真是对银行业现状忧心忡忡，就不该变卦推诿。”
大卫•康利夫还说，下一步，国会财经委员会将考虑向银行发出关注短期利率的要求。
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18 June 2009
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Media Statement
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Hon David Cunliffe
Finance Spokesperson
English: Lion turns lamb
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Finance Minister Bill English confirmed in Parliament today that representations from “three” or “four” major banks lay behind National’s change of emphasis on bank interest rates, Labour finance spokesperson David Cunliffe says.
“Last week Bill English and John Key roared like lions that banks should pass on the full cuts to the official cash rate to Kiwi homes and businesses,” David Cunliffe said.
“But this week they are lying down like lambs and declaring that their ‘top priority’ is the ‘stability’ and ‘profitability’ of the banking sector.”
Asked in Parliament why the Government’s stern words to the banks had ended not with a bang but a whimper, Mr English confirmed “three” or “four” banks had made representations in the last week on the matter, David Cunliffe said.
“The message from the Beehive to the Northern Club is now clear – please don’t confuse our wet bus ticket with a serious slapping.
“The Government cannot have it both ways. If they were relaxed about interest rate cuts being withheld they should not have pretended otherwise. If they were seriously concerned they should not have buckled,” David Cunliffe said.
David Cunliffe said the next step lay with Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure committee, which has announced that it is considering an inquiry into banking matters focused on short term interest rates.
Contact: David Cunliffe 021 377 337
