By Duncan Garner
Prime Minister John Key has finally admitted the wage gap with Australia has grown.
He told 3 News today it was a "statement of fact", but it's also a statement that's in marked contrast to what he was saying yesterday.
Yesterday it was revealed National is failing in its promise to close the wage gap with Australia. Even using Mr Key's own figures, the gap has grown by a minimum $22 a week since he took office.
Today, he finally accepted the gap has grown, and blamed Labour.
"We inherited a mess from Labour and a real recession," he said. "We have a plan."
It's a change of tune from Mr Key – yesterday when asked if the gap was widening, he said no.
"Why doesn't the Prime Minister actually admit he's made it worse?" asked Labour leader Phil Goff.
"Because I haven't," Mr Key insisted.
Yesterday Mr Key said the gap had closed from $187.60 in 2005 to $160.25 this year. He never mentioned the 2008 gap of $137.89, which meant the gap is actually $22.36 dollars wider since Mr Key has been in power.
And even still today Mr Key was arguing - he says he has some figures showing the gap has closed, but none were released publicly.
"We have a data series that shows a closing of the gap."
So we asked Mr Key, does he still believe he can reach the goal of closing the gap?
"We were elected to do it and we will do it."
National's handling of the wage gap issue this week has been poor. First Gerry Brownlee said it had closed when it hadn't, then Mr Key, under pressure to back him, followed him, but sunshine is always the best disinfectant - and Mr Key's own figures never lied - and only today has he accepted the gap has widened.
3 News
source: newshub archive
