Jewelled geckos returned home

Last week I was privileged to assist in the release of 16 jewelled geckos back onto the Otago Pennisula, from where they were stolen last month.
The geckos, which are ranked by the Department of Conservation as being in gradual decline, are only found in the South Island – mainly on Otago and Banks Pennisulas and in the Mackenzie Basin. The Otago Pennisula population is estimated to be just 700.
The loss of 16 of these animals would have been a disaster so I was really pleased to be able to assist in their reintroduction which helps to safeguard the genetics of this unique and special population.
The German tourist who stole the geckos was sentenced to 15 weeks jail.
Two other men were also charged in association with the offence and have been remanded in custody for sentencing at the end of the month.
It’s really important we send a strong message to poachers that the cost of stealing our wildlife far outweighs any benefits.
Notwithstanding this, the most important way to stop such activity remains prevention and in this regard the community has a responsibility to be vigilant in ensuring such behaviour is discouraged.
I’m really encouraged by the community on the Pennisula and by DOC in the work that they’re doing in this area.

Making our roads safer

National is giving priority to measures aimed at young drivers and drunk and drugged motorists outlined in a 10-year strategy to make our roads safer.
The strategy - Safer Journeys – was released this week and is designed to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads over the next decade.
It takes a system-wide approach by looking at the safety of roads, road users, vehicles, and speed.
A disproportionate number of young New Zealanders die on our roads - young Kiwis have a 60 per cent higher fatality rate on the roads than young Australians. Alcohol is a factor in almost one in three fatal crashes, and current policies are not having a big enough impact.
Over the next two months Cabinet will consider action plans which include raising the driving age to 16, zero blood-alcohol limits for young drivers and repeat drink drivers, and introducing alcohol interlock technology.
Other strategies indentified as priorities by the Government include motorcycling, making changes to our give way rules, and safer speeds.
More information:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/safer+journeys+making+our+roads+safer+0

Government investing $6 billion a year on infrastructure

The National Infrastructure Plan shows the major investment this Government is making in New Zealand's critical infrastructure such as roads, broadband, and schools.
This is directly supporting thousands of jobs, and unclogging the country’s economic arteries. A stronger economy will, over time, mean better wages and higher living standards for New Zealand families. It also gives local councils, contractors, and businesses certainty for the future.
The first National Infrastructure Plan, issued this week, provides a snapshot of public and private infrastructure, planned investment, and the Government's priorities. It shows this Government is spending more than $6 billion a year on expanding and maintaining its physical assets and that it holds about $110 billion of such assets.
We are investing $10.7 billion in State Highways over the next 10 years, $3.3 billion in our electricity grid over the next five years, and $1.5 billion in urban broadband over the next decade. Then there is the $2.7 billion for new schools and buildings over the next five years.
The plan also identifies bottlenecks and gaps in the future so we can address them in a timely manner.
More information:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/infrastructure+plan+outlines+large+programme

Message to Superannuitants re Tax Changes

Recently, in a speech to North Shore Grey Power, John Key outlined how tax changes would increase incomes for superannuitants.
The National-led Government is considering across-the-board personal tax cuts and changes to property tax as part of a tax package that might include a rise in GST from 12.5 per cent to 15 per cent.
If the Government decides to increase GST, Superannuation payments will immediately rise in two separate ways.
1. Superannuitants would get an income tax cut, which would apply both to Superannuation and to any other income they receive, such as interest, dividends, or part-time earnings.
2. On top of this tax cut, Superannuation payments would be increased up front, by just over 2 per cent, to reflect the general rise in prices. The increase in Super payments would be immediate from the day GST went up, without waiting for the usual annual inflation adjustment.
This double-whammy increase means that superannuitants would have their incomes lifted quite significantly, and at a rate that exceeds the increase in prices.
In addition to the two immediate increases, across-the-board tax cuts would lift the after-tax average wage – raising the floor for Superannuation payments, which are linked to 66 per cent of the after-tax average wage. In his speech, the Prime Minister also reiterated that National is committed to maintaining Super payments linked to 66 per cent of the after-tax average wage from age 65.

Income Tax and GST

Over the past eight months, the Tax Working Group has looked at our tax system and found that the mix of taxes is not ideal. We want to fix that, to improve our economic performance, help create sustainable jobs, and lift family incomes. We'll be making some changes to the way property is taxed. Those changes will be fairer for taxpayers. We'll announce details in the Budget in May. As part of the overall package we are also considering increasing the rate of GST to 15 per cent, together with a reduction in personal income taxes across the board, and up-front increases in benefits, New Zealand Superannuation, and Working for Families payments. What would be the effect of this tax switch? Prices would rise by just over 2 per cent, but at the same time people would have more money in their pockets through income tax cuts, and increases in benefits, Super, and Working for Families. As a Government, we are working to ensure that the extra money in people's pockets would be more than the increase in prices. If we can't make sure that happens for the vast bulk of people, we won't be increasing GST.

ACC Changes Necessary

I have been quite involved in the policy and Select Committee work that resulted in the ACC amendment Act being passed recently. This will ensure ACC is affordable, sustainable, and fair for current and future generations.
ACC claim costs have risen 57 per cent in the past four years - five times the rate of inflation - and the unfunded liabilities have grown from $4 billion to $13 billion.
The scale of levy increases required this year without these law changes would be crippling for workers, motorists, and businesses. The law changes enable the levy increase this year for the average worker to be reduced from $550 to $150. The levy increase for motorists is $30 a car, down from $104. And for employers the average levy increase is 12 per cent instead of 44 per cent.
This law change is part of the Government’s objective to secure the long-term future of ACC as an effective and fair 24/7 no-fault insurance scheme for all New Zealanders.
More information:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/affordable+sustainable+and+fair+acc