"The economy is in bad shape & times are tough but don't worry I'm gonna be right behind you as soon as I get back from my luxury pad in Hawaii." Don't forget to tighted your belts while we're away!" 16 December 2010

Prime Minister John Key and his deputy Bill English sympathise with people because of the tough economic times but John Key smiles as he leaves for his luxury pad in Hawaii and Bill English warns people to tighten their belts. Context; The [December] half-year update on the government's books will show a cash deficit well in excess of the already massive $13.3 billion deficit forecast in the Budget in May. "We have taken our fiscal position to the outer limit of what we regard as acceptable," Key said in his weekly post-Cabinet press conference. He would not answer questions speculating at a cash deficit over $15 billion, but said the Half Year Fiscal and Economic Update from the Treasury would show "a significant number, not a number we would want to see repeated."(Scoop Business 13 December 2010)

Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).