Category: ACT Party

Source: ACT Party

Headline: Woods caught telling fibs on oil and gas consultation

“Industry was kept in the dark over the Government’s oil and gas decision, despite claims to the contrary”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.

In response to a written parliamentary question from Mr Seymour, Energy and Resources Megan Woods said no “formal consultation was undertaken with PEPANZ.” 

PEPANZ is the industry association for the oil and gas sector.

“Woods’ confirmation there was no consultation conflicts with her previous statements.

“On Q+A on 22 April, Woods was asked by Corin Dann: ‘Did you consult with them? Did you talk to them? I mean, the argument is that you didn’t.’ Woods replied: ‘Oh, well, that’s simply not the case.’

“We now know that statement was false.

“This Government is currently consulting dozens of industries, but it was too arrogant to talk to the oil and gas sector for fear that would spoil its publicity stunt.

“Instead of facing up to the people of Taranaki, or talking to the industry, Jacinda Ardern swanned off to London and Paris to gain the approval of her fellow world leaders.

“That symbolises perfectly the arrogance of the Ardern administration”, says Mr Seymour.

Source: ACT Party

Headline: Our nuclear-free moment? Or business as usual?

Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods will today travel to Taranaki to talk to those affected by her Government’s oil and gas decision.

The Government’s messages have been either contradictory or dishonest.

“The Government is talking out both sides of its mouth”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“On the one hand, we have Jacinda Ardern selling this decision in London and Paris as her generation’s ‘nuclear-free moment’.

“But on the other, Megan Woods is trying to assure industry that it is business as usual. ‘Nothing’s changed’, she said this weekend.

“Which is it? The Government is being dishonest with New Zealanders. It cannot have it both ways”, says Mr Seymour.

Source: ACT Party

Headline: Free Press, 23 April 2018

Free Press, 23 April 2018

This last week we saw more evidence of the Government putting PR ahead of good policy. 

Style over substance

On Friday, Jacinda Ardern was quoted using a Maori proverb at a dinner hosted by the Queen: “What is the most important thing in the world? It is the people, the people, the people.”

She implored other Commonwealth leaders to remember their role was to serve and improve the lives of their people.

Serving our people?

Contrast the Prime Minister’s rhetorical flourish with comments her Education Minister has made about charter schools, in which some of our most disadvantaged children have thrived.

“Charter schools are a blight on our educational system”, Chris Hipkins has said. “There is no place for them.”

The PM has no right to claim she is serving New Zealanders when her Government is stripping opportunity away from 1300 mostly Maori and Pasifika students. 

Hipkins a no-show

Free Press isn’t surprised that Chris Hipkins didn’t want to show up on Newshub Nation this weekend to defend his indefensible charter school policy. 

Union boss Whetu Cormick – standing in for Hipkins – completely failed to make the Government’s case. 

A shambolic performance

Cormick wasn’t aware that charter schools mostly employ registered teachers. 

He wouldn’t defend the state system’s abysmal record of failure of Maori students. 

He couldn’t dispute the fact that charter schools are getting better academic outcomes for students. 

Dogma over data

Asked if charter schools were failing Cormick said “it’s too early to tell” and in the next breath admitted “we believe they should be shut down”. 

As Lisa Owen put it, the union approach to charter schools is one of ‘dogma over data’. 

On the road, in the regions

Last week, ACT Leader David Seymour was in Otorohanga to promote his End of Life Choice Bill and in Taranaki to meet with people affected by the Government’s oil and gas decision. 

Destroying an ecosystem

The Taranaki economy is an ecosystem in which businesses are interdependent. 

Fitzroy Engineering, whom David visited on Wednesday, depends on the oil and gas industry and employs 400 highly-skilled employees. 

By banning new oil and gas exploration, the Government will shatter that ecosystem and will have a much wider impact on the economy than it has so far considered. 

Our energy future

The Government – and especially the Greens – like to say that cheap, clean technologies which can fulfil our energy needs are right around the corner.

If the Government is right, the oil and gas industry will have wasted massive resources through its current investments. 

If on the other hand the Government is wrong, it will be depriving New Zealand of reliable energy sources which are vital to maintaining our standard of living. 

Who’s right?

Who should we expect is more likely to be right about our energy future? 

The oil and gas industry, which has skin in the game and every incentive to get their investments right? Or former student politicians looking for a PR opportunity?

Only time will tell. 

Source: ACT Party

Headline: Treasury criticised R&D tax credit, Govt should lower corporate rate

In 2008, the Government’s economic advisor set out various concerns about an R&D tax credit.

“Grant Roberston should listen to these concerns and instead lower the corporate tax rate for all businesses”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“The Treasury said the estimated fiscal cost of maintaining the credit [would be] $373 million a year and that it incurred significant fiscal and compliance costs for businesses.

“It also questioned the credit’s effectiveness, saying that international experience and anecdotal evidence showed little additional expenditure will be generated as a result of the credit.

“This is because firms can claim credits for pre-existing R&D investment plans and may recharacterise their expenditure to fit the eligibility criteria.

“The Government would do far better to cut taxes across the board and let businesses make their own investment decisions.

“Greater investment in research and development is important, but this isn’t the way to do it.

“The Government should lower the corporate tax rate for all businesses, encouraging greater investment and growth, more jobs and higher wages for workers”, says Mr Seymour.

Source: ACT Party

Headline: Government should heed warning on protectionism

“Jacinda Ardern’s government is being warned that its protectionism will scare away foreign investors”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“Documents released by Treasury show the Government’s restrictions on overseas investment in rural land may ‘negatively affect New Zealand’s attractiveness as a destination for overseas investment’ and may have ‘unintended consequences and complicate the assessment of overseas investments the Government may wish to facilitate.’

“The Government pays lip service to the idea that foreign investment leads higher growth and productivity, more jobs and exports, and new skills and technology.

“Despite this, it has pandered to xenophobic sentiment and put in place a policy that will lead to lower living standards.

“According to the OECD’s foreign investment restrictiveness index, New Zealand already has the toughest foreign investment rules of any developed country. Only seven developing countries – including Myanmar and Saudi Arabia – beat us to the title of ‘most discriminatory’.

“This is just the latest example of Jacinda Ardern governing by what sounds good without asking what the side effects of her policies will be. Her Government is dangerous and arrogant, and will destroy wealth and opportunity without warning.

“ACT would roll back restrictions on foreign investment, ensuring New Zealanders can take advantage of its benefits”, says Mr Seymour.

Source: ACT Party

Headline: Jacinda tries to re-write history in new interview

“Jacinda Ardern is trying to re-write history with comments that she ran an ‘outward facing’ election campaign”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.

In a new interview, the Prime Minister said ‘The suggestion in any way that New Zealand wasn’t an open outward facing country, the suggestion that I was leading something that was counter to that value, made me extremely angry.’

“Labour’s policy during the election campaign was to cut immigration numbers by 20,000 to 30,000.

“One of its first actions was to restrict foreign investment in rural land.

“The Government has pushed ahead with a plan to ban foreigners from buying New Zealand homes.

“The one outward facing policy the Government has delivered – the CPTPP – the Labour Party campaigned against.

“The idea that Labour ran a campaign that was open to the world is completely false. It has now delivered on its promise and is running a xenophobic government.

“The PM might fool the world’s media and foreign leaders, but New Zealanders will see her government for what it is.

“The Prime Minister is trying to re-write history. It won’t wash”, says Mr Seymour.

Source: ACT Party

Headline: Free Press, 16 April 2018

Another Jacinda Surprise 

Last week, the Government decided to kneecap one of our most important industries, putting New Zealanders’ wellbeing at risk for what is essentially a photo op.

Hurting the economy…

The Government’s decision to end offshore oil and gas exploration will put thousands of jobs at risk.

The oil and gas industry contributes $2.5 billion to the New Zealand economy and $500 million to the Government in royalties each year.

… and the environment  

It will also drive production of oil and gas overseas, harming the environment.

Natural gas has about half the emissions of coal, and New Zealand-produced oil has lower emissions than oil produced overseas.

New Zealand households and firms will be forced to buy higher-cost and dirtier energy from foreign sources.

Make policy first, ask questions later

This is another example of Jacinda Ardern governing by what sounds good without asking the questions ‘will this policy work’ and ‘what will be the side effects’?

Arrogant government 

The Government didn’t have the guts to go to Taranaki to tell locals. It didn’t even consult the industry before the announcement.

Instead, Jacinda went to Victoria to make the announcement in front of hundreds of fawning left-wing students.

Contemptuous of opponents

The Government doesn’t like talking to its opponents.

David Clark and Damien O’Connor have threatened food executives with a sugar tax.

Speaking about a water tax, David Parker told farmers ‘I’m not here to negotiate. Don’t push me or it will be two cents instead of one cent.’

Chris Hipkins hasn’t even bothered to speak to charter schools and is pushing ahead with plans to close them.

Why now?

Ardern made the announcement before stepping out on to the world stage with the likes of Justin Trudeau.

But Ardern may not find support from Trudeau.

Today he expressed strong support for a project which would triple the capacity of the Trans Mountain oil pipeline, saying people’s livelihoods depend on it.

Big Government Bridges won’t reverse socialist policies 

Back on the domestic front, Simon Bridges won’t commit to rolling back the Government’s socialist policies.

If he did commit to scrapping fees-free, the Provincial Growth Fund, and raising the age of superannuation eligibility, ACT would deliver meaningful tax cuts with a top tax rate of 25 per cent.

Campaigning from the right, governing from the left

Instead, it appears National will continue its tendency to campaign from the right, and govern from the left.

It is committed to limited government in opposition, but lacks the fortitude to reverse socialist policies when they get the chance.

ACT is committed to reversing Labour’s tax and spend policies as part of the next centre-right government.

Marama Davidson

The Greens have elected a committed Marxist as their new female co-leader Marama Davidson.

Her comments on social media show she has a particular distaste for free markets.

She also seems to wants to kick rich people out of politics – certainly not the inclusive brand of politics the Greens have promised.

No ‘Teal Deal’

Davidson’s overwhelming victory shows that the Greens are now controlled by their fundamentalist, social activist base.

It is certainly a far cry from the environmentalism of Jeanette Fitzsimons and Rod Donald.

The so-called ‘Teal Deal’ with National is dead.

In order to form the next government, the centre-right needs a strong ACT.

Source: ACT Party

Headline: Minister must intervene in Middleton case

“The callous treatment of Mark Middleton at the hands of immigration authorities is simply outrageous and Associate Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi must put it right”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“Middleton has called New Zealand home for the last 56 years.

“Instead of contacting him by phone or email, Immigration NZ burst into his workplace, threw him in jail, and gave him no access to the phone.

“With about 10,000 overstayers in the country, Immigration NZ knows full well there far more serious cases it should attend to.

“That it chose to round up and throw in jail a hardworking man who has been in the country since 1962, rather than encouraging him to apply for a visa, is nothing short of an outrage.

“The Labour Party was up in arms when Australia began deporting New Zealanders who had lived across the ditch for most of their lives.

“Faafoi must show some the same compassion to Middleton, cancel his deportation order, and issue him a section 61 visa”, says Mr Seymour.

Source: ACT Party

Headline: Oil and gas changes show Govt’s brazen arrogance

“The Government has shown breathtaking arrogance by keeping the oil and gas industry in the dark over changes to the sector”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“Fronting media today, it was abundantly clear that the Government hadn’t consulted the industry on the changes.

“The Government has set up about 40 reviews, working groups, or panels, and yet it appears unwilling to consult those who disagree with them on policy.

“This is an emerging theme with the Government.

“Food executives came away shocked at Ministers’ behaviour after David Clark and Damien O’Connor threatened them with a sugar tax if they didn’t voluntarily reduce the level of sugar in their food.

“David Parker’s colleagues are concerned he has neglected consultation with iwi on charging a royalty on bottled water exports.

“Speaking about a water tax during the election campaign, Parker told farmers ‘I’m not here to negotiate. Don’t push me or it will be two cents instead of one cent.’

“Chris Hipkins hasn’t even bothered to speak to charter school operators or students since he became a Minister and is pushing ahead with plans to close the schools.

“The brazen arrogance with which this Government is operating lays bare the contempt they hold for those who disagree with them”, says Mr Seymour.

Source: ACT Party

Headline: Ending offshore exploration is lose-lose

“The Government’s decision to end offshore oil and gas exploration will put 11,000 jobs at risk and could harm the environment”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“The oil and gas industry creates thousands of jobs, contributes $2.5 billion to the New Zealand economy and $500 million to the Government in royalties each year.

“Not only will this policy make us poorer as a country, it will drive production of oil and gas overseas which will harm the environment.

“Natural gas has about half the emissions of coal, and New Zealand-produced oil has lower emissions than oil produced overseas

“Ending offshore exploration will force New Zealand households and firms to buy higher-cost and dirtier energy from foreign sources.

“This is another example of Jacinda Ardern governing by what sounds good without asking the questions ‘will this policy work’ and ‘what will be the side effects’?

“This is a dangerous and arrogant government that will destroy wealth and opportunity without warning – no sector is safe.

“This is a lose-lose policy and the Government should consider very carefully how it will impact New Zealanders”, says Mr Seymour.