Category: Economic Issues
The Labour Government’s $2 million Welfare Expert Advisory Group’s report was made public last Friday - in the same week that labour market figures showed the number of New Zealanders with jobs had fallen by 4,000 in the past three months. If enacted, their 42 recommendations would dramatically deepen the dependency trap.
The words of a former PM must have been ringing in the halls of Parliament last week when the Prime Minister announced that a capital gains tax would not be introduced during her watch. It was David Lange who said, “a capital gains tax policy is one likely to lose you not merely the next election, but the next three”.
The Government has rejected the Tax Working Group’s recommendations for the introduction of a capital gains tax. One of the effects of such a capital gains tax would have been on economic growth. Economic growth is important as it is the source of increases over time in average incomes.
The whole spectrum of special Maori rights - including co-governance rights - is a massive deception built on the false premise of ‘partnership’ touted as law. It is constitutionally impossible for a 'partnership' to exist between the sovereign and the governed.
Right now the Government will be assessing the damage caused by the Tax Working Group’s proposed capital gains tax. By all accounts, the Prime Minister has been well and truly spooked by the vehemence of the public outcry against the proposal.
Fairness has been talked about a lot lately, by the government. It appears to be justifying everything by saying "it's the fair thing to do". Fairness has replaced housing affordability as the primary justification for the government wanting to introduce a capital gains tax
Jacinda Ardern’s Tax Working Group released its final report last week. It recommends a highly punitive capital gains tax, which it claims would make New Zealand’s tax system ‘fairer’ by forcing the ‘rich’ to pay more tax.
There is no evidence the that “the rich are getting richer”, that the highest income earners are increasing their income share. Similarly, there is no evidence that “the poor are getting poorer”. The extremes are not diverging.
Politics has been described as the contest of ideas. It is also the art of manipulation. This was evident during the 13 hour debate on the Prime Minister’s Statement that began on Parliament’s first sitting day for the new year.
Just a few days before Waitangi Day the government announced it has earmarked several million more dollars for Maori projects. During Waitangi Day commemorations it may express its willingness to give iwi leaders a greater say in governance, too - but without providing critical details.
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