Craig Stobo on Competing with Australia, Immigration & National Debt

Michael Laws talks to economic commentator Craig Stobo about competing with Australia, immigration, national debt and more.
Watch the full interview at theplatform.kiwi/
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[@Cathz-jy7ee]

Yes I agree with Craig, lets sell more public assets given that worked out so well with NZ rail in 1993. Oh wait, the government had to eventually buy back the degraded rail and track infrastructure to try and fix the "asset-stripped" mess ...

[@dinhcom1]

Having lived in Asia on and off for 35 years, I know the potential for value add on food production is huge if NZ ever decided to get serious. First step is break up Fonterra. They are an incompetent conglomerate that screw NZs earning potential everyday of the week. Their preoccupation with China has been a disgrace whilst ignoring ASEAN. BP has shot up, so enough from me…

[@mynameisrufusdude]

It's hard to accumulate capital and participate in entrepreneurship when you have nothing left after expenses.

[@perryanderson9103]

Were never going to be on level playing field with Aussie i don’t know why they keep comparing us

[@Ecco-ix1yc]

Great interview. Everyone's leaving to go to Oz. Our brightest and best. Interesting that Craig thinks any immigration is good. Not sure if I agree on that one. Immigration on a controlled basis might be good. That hasn't happened for the last few years. We don't just want bums on seats.

[@potato3264]

They can keep their food and experiences. Happy without them TYVM

[@ooo-vc4xl]

NZ's debt is not that bad compared to other countries. Private sector capital doesn't help, the end user still pays the cost & there are plenty of PPPs worldwide that have failed. If we had bothered to manage the immigration rate we wouldn't have such a housing and infrastructure deficit. NZs biggest problem is its screwed up tax system that is not a level playing field and is heavily biased towards property. Income taxes in NZ could be a lot lower and NZ more productive if we levelled that tax playing field and had a capital gains tax and inheritance tax. Improving the education system??? - all the best go overseas. More FDI??? - most of NZs big businesses and brands are already Australian. Its not hard to come to a conclusion - follow the money - the tax system is completely screwed up.

[@brutallyremastered4255]

So we will sell Fronterra to the Chinese. Great, just great, our export record will be destroyed completely. But yeah, we need more bus drivers and Chinese insurance and real estate "experts".

[@billwilson1320]

Australia's govt. debt as a % of GDP is 38%. This guy has a hole in his head!

[@Ecco-ix1yc]

We still have to compete with Aussie in attracting talent. Oz can have a much higher debt to gdp and withstand economic shocks. Nz being a small economy cannnot.