Wage views no surprise

Chester Borrows Photo/File

It sometimes seems that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

This week, the minimum wage rose to $14.25, and I immediately got two emails.

The first was from a local employer of about 40 staff and he was concerned that the minimum wage was now too high.

The second was from someone who works at a fast-food outlet - who thought it was still too low. Nothing unexpected there.

When the minimum wage was well under $13 per hour five years ago, it was acceptable to a Labour government. But now, with lower taxes (even after the increase in GST), lower inflation, lower interest rates, increased government support and a much-increased minimum wage, Labour says we are 75 cents short of where it should be. One wonders why they are not saying we are 80 cents short or $5 short.

Most of us have had to live on low wages at some stage and found it tough. I certainly have sympathy for those on minimum wages, and have witnessed this as my kids have struggled to make ends meet on the minimum or close to it.

It is highlighted in election year, but the two sides of this coin will remain - to those on the minimum wage, aware of the struggle to pay bills, the minimum will never be enough; to the employer who pays that wage and is mindful of overheads and the sharp pencil required to beat international competition for every contract, the minimum will always be too high.

In other news, Prime Minister John Key announced in clear, unequivocal terms that National would not be selling any more shares in state assets. Labour leader David Cunliffe said he didn't believe it. No surprises there.

The leader of the Opposition, especially one down in the polls and fighting for media attention and public support - and even acceptance by his own caucus, will always attack the credibility of the Prime Minister. Even when doing so brings words such as "pot", "kettle" and "black" to mind. Just as predictably, every election there is a little guy who naively believes he has a sniff of victory. Enter Colin Craig, who has just learned that politics is sometimes less of a competition and more of a verbal battle. He should remember the mantra about sticks and stones or stay in his corner of the sandpit.

In the end, those who have historically voted for one party or another at a general election will probably do what they have always done.

So those 15 per cent of voters sitting in the middle, who change their vote dependent on issues and policy, carry a heavy mantle of responsibility: to listen to the issues, research the facts and to vote accordingly.

They are the ones who actually change or keep the government.