This week the Government increased the excise tax on cigarettes and tobacco. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in New Zealand. It is directly linked to almost 5000 deaths each year. University of Otago research shows that when cigarette prices rose steeply between 1995 and 2000, smoking fell.
We are working to reduce smoking, discourage young people from starting to smoke, and improve the health of New Zealanders.
One of the six current health targets is to provide better help for smokers to quit. We fund the Quitline free telephone support service, subsidise nicotine replacement therapy, Aukati kai paipa face-to-face quit support services, and information campaigns to help people quit. Increasing the cost of cigarettes, subsidising treatment and support, and providing good information all contribute to reducing smoking.
For more information visit: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/tobacco+excise+increase+immediately
Friday, April 30, 2010
Rebuilding trust in our financial markets
National is working to restore the confidence of mum and dad investors, while developing capital markets to help businesses grow. On too many occasions in finance company collapses we heard of investors' money falling to the floor through the cracks between regulators.
A new “super regulator” for our financial markets will be up and running early next year.
The Financial Markets Authority will enforce securities, financial reporting, and company law applying to financial services and securities markets. It will also regulate and oversee trustees, auditors, financial advisers, and financial service providers including people who offer investments.
The Financial Markets Authority will focus on visible, proactive, and timely enforcement.
For more information visit: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government+announces+%e2%80%98super-regulator039+financial+markets
A new “super regulator” for our financial markets will be up and running early next year.
The Financial Markets Authority will enforce securities, financial reporting, and company law applying to financial services and securities markets. It will also regulate and oversee trustees, auditors, financial advisers, and financial service providers including people who offer investments.
The Financial Markets Authority will focus on visible, proactive, and timely enforcement.
For more information visit: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government+announces+%e2%80%98super-regulator039+financial+markets
Budget 2010: Helping New Zealand families get ahead
The Budget next month will help New Zealanders and their families get ahead by focusing on four main goals: lifting the long-term performance of the economy, reforming the tax system, better delivery of public services, and maintaining firm control of the Government’s finances.
The National-led Government will continue to improve public services, funding them from cuts to low-quality spending and from the new operating allowance. We will live within the $1.1 billion operating allowance for new spending and will restrict annual increases from this figure to 2 per cent per year from next year.
Even with this restraint, core Crown debt is forecast to triple to about $65 billion by 2014, as we borrow to fund the deficits. To turn this round, the Budget will redirect another $1.8 billion of lower-quality spending between now and 2014 into high-priority areas, such as health care, education, and law and order.
For more information visit: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/speech+wellington+regional+chamber+commerce+3
The National-led Government will continue to improve public services, funding them from cuts to low-quality spending and from the new operating allowance. We will live within the $1.1 billion operating allowance for new spending and will restrict annual increases from this figure to 2 per cent per year from next year.
Even with this restraint, core Crown debt is forecast to triple to about $65 billion by 2014, as we borrow to fund the deficits. To turn this round, the Budget will redirect another $1.8 billion of lower-quality spending between now and 2014 into high-priority areas, such as health care, education, and law and order.
For more information visit: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/speech+wellington+regional+chamber+commerce+3
Friday, April 23, 2010
Environment: Taking responsibility on emissions
National believes New Zealand must do our fair share to reduce carbon emissions. Delaying the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is not in New Zealand’s best interests.
We have moderated the ETS established under Labour by scaling back the impacts on carbon emitters. The changes to Labour’s scheme will halve the cost for families and businesses.
Without an ETS, New Zealand would continue to see more deforestation and a reduction in tree planting. New data shows that the ETS has reversed the trend towards reforestation.
There will be a formal review of the ETS in 2011. Part of that review will look at progress by our major trading partners. If progress is lagging, the review may recommend changes to the ETS.
National believes that we have a role to play in tackling climate change. We hosted the inaugural meeting of the Global Research Alliance this month (April), and provided $45 million of funding over four years. We’ve also allocated $50 million over 10 years for the Centre for Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research to help reduce on-farm carbon emissions. And we’ve invested $347 million in a home insulation scheme to help families save on energy costs.
With these initiatives, and the ETS, National will continue to balance New Zealand’s economic opportunities with our environmental responsibilities.
We have moderated the ETS established under Labour by scaling back the impacts on carbon emitters. The changes to Labour’s scheme will halve the cost for families and businesses.
Without an ETS, New Zealand would continue to see more deforestation and a reduction in tree planting. New data shows that the ETS has reversed the trend towards reforestation.
There will be a formal review of the ETS in 2011. Part of that review will look at progress by our major trading partners. If progress is lagging, the review may recommend changes to the ETS.
National believes that we have a role to play in tackling climate change. We hosted the inaugural meeting of the Global Research Alliance this month (April), and provided $45 million of funding over four years. We’ve also allocated $50 million over 10 years for the Centre for Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research to help reduce on-farm carbon emissions. And we’ve invested $347 million in a home insulation scheme to help families save on energy costs.
With these initiatives, and the ETS, National will continue to balance New Zealand’s economic opportunities with our environmental responsibilities.
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous rights and culture are important to New Zealand, and fundamental to our identity as a nation.
The Treaty of Waitangi continues to be the basis for the Crown-Māori relationship. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples contains principles consistent with the duties and principles inherent in the Treaty of Waitangi, such as operating in the spirit of partnership and mutual respect.
Many of the rights in the Declaration have been enjoyed in New Zealand for years. They include practising and revitalising cultural traditions and customs, living in freedom, peace and security as distinct peoples, and participating in decisions in matters that affect their rights.
The Declaration is an affirmation of accepted international human rights, and also expresses new, non-binding, aspirations. By supporting the Declaration, New Zealand both affirms those rights, and reaffirms the legal and constitutional frameworks that underpin New Zealand’s legal system.
For more information visit: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/national+govt+support+un+rights+declaration
The Treaty of Waitangi continues to be the basis for the Crown-Māori relationship. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples contains principles consistent with the duties and principles inherent in the Treaty of Waitangi, such as operating in the spirit of partnership and mutual respect.
Many of the rights in the Declaration have been enjoyed in New Zealand for years. They include practising and revitalising cultural traditions and customs, living in freedom, peace and security as distinct peoples, and participating in decisions in matters that affect their rights.
The Declaration is an affirmation of accepted international human rights, and also expresses new, non-binding, aspirations. By supporting the Declaration, New Zealand both affirms those rights, and reaffirms the legal and constitutional frameworks that underpin New Zealand’s legal system.
For more information visit: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/national+govt+support+un+rights+declaration
Budget 2010: GST and superannuation – what you would get
National believes that lower personal taxes across the board are a good thing. We want to give people incentives to work hard, improve their skills, and get ahead here in New Zealand.
To do this, we need to change the mix of taxes. Any tax switch involving cutting personal taxes across the board and raising GST to 15 per cent would leave the vast bulk of New Zealanders better off.
For New Zealanders on national superannuation, an increase in GST would be accompanied by immediate compensation for the one-off impact of higher GST. This would happen on the day of any GST increase.
To offset other ongoing price increases, the usual annual inflation adjustments will also be made to superannuation rates, so that superannuitants’ spending power is preserved.
In addition, across the board personal income tax cuts would increase the amount of superannuation that people receive in the hand.
Our tax package will be broadly cost neutral, with a focus on fairness. We’re committed to protecting the most vulnerable, while improving New Zealand’s long-term prospects.
For more information visit: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/speech+wellington+regional+chamber+commerce+3
To do this, we need to change the mix of taxes. Any tax switch involving cutting personal taxes across the board and raising GST to 15 per cent would leave the vast bulk of New Zealanders better off.
For New Zealanders on national superannuation, an increase in GST would be accompanied by immediate compensation for the one-off impact of higher GST. This would happen on the day of any GST increase.
To offset other ongoing price increases, the usual annual inflation adjustments will also be made to superannuation rates, so that superannuitants’ spending power is preserved.
In addition, across the board personal income tax cuts would increase the amount of superannuation that people receive in the hand.
Our tax package will be broadly cost neutral, with a focus on fairness. We’re committed to protecting the most vulnerable, while improving New Zealand’s long-term prospects.
For more information visit: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/speech+wellington+regional+chamber+commerce+3
Budget 2010: Extra $1.8 billion to frontline services
The Budget next month will redirect $1.8 billion of lower quality government spending into frontline public services between now and 2014. This follows Budget 2009 redirecting $2 billion to higher priority initiatives.
That’s a significant sum of money we’re making available for important areas such as better healthcare services, better education, and keeping New Zealanders safe.
The National-led Government will continue to weed out low quality spending. We will live within the $1.1 billion annual operating allowance for new spending we have set ourselves.
For more information visit: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/budget+frees+another+18b+priority+spending+0
That’s a significant sum of money we’re making available for important areas such as better healthcare services, better education, and keeping New Zealanders safe.
The National-led Government will continue to weed out low quality spending. We will live within the $1.1 billion annual operating allowance for new spending we have set ourselves.
For more information visit: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/budget+frees+another+18b+priority+spending+0
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