Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists
Public ownership is both cheaper and better for workers and essential services, a new report released today has found.
“ How public ownership saves money, protects workers and delivers better services ” chronicles the experiences of privatisation across multiple decades and sectors, both in Aotearoa and overseas.
Released by the new coalition – Public Futures Aotearoa – the report also features case studies looking in detail at the banking, electricity and rail sectors.
“With political parties proposing to sell off, lease or outsource our assets and public services for corporate gain this election, it’s important to take stock of the impact past privatisations have had on New Zealand,” Public Futures Aotearoa spokesperson Edward Miller says.
“Privatised sectors like electricity and banking are at the heart of today’s cost of living crisis, with private shareholders enjoying windfall dividends while working-class communities struggle to make ends meet.”
Privatisation policies have continued under the Coalition Government, and both the Act and National parties have signalled their intentions to accelerate these plans as part of their election pitches, Miller says.
“Kāinga Ora is selling land and houses, private consortia have been given billions to develop and operate highways and prisons, and hundreds of millions in elective surgeries have been outsourced to private hospitals. KiwiBank has been told to prepare for partial privatisation and plans are afoot to replace our world-class public meat inspection service with company inspectors. “In each case here, the public faces rising costs, threats to wages and conditions, and impacts on service delivery. These unpopular policies often progress because it feels like there’s no alternative, but that’s simply not the case,” Miller says.
Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa the New Zealand Nurses Organisation Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says privatisation siphons public money away from universal public services.
“In health we are seeing public resources and funding being shifted to private hospitals to carry out routine elective procedures, leaving aging public health care facilities overcrowded and understaffed”, Kerri Nuku says.
The report concludes by setting out a model of public ownership for Aotearoa in the twenty-first century which honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi, involves the public, and upholds environmental standards, transparency and excellence in delivery.
Notes:
Public Futures Aotearoa is a coalition of unions, community groups and researchers committed to documenting the costs and risks of privatisation.
The coalition supports groups trying to keep assets and services under public ownership and control. It will be carrying out training, research, analysis and advocacy in the lead-up to the 2026 Election and beyond.
Website: publicfuturesaotearoa.nz